Dana 44 Big Hub Rotor Removal

[TheWhiteElephant]

I'm putting new rotors on my '73 K20. It has the 8 lug "big hub" rotors that have the large hub held on by the wheel studs. I have already removed the wheel studs but cannot seem to figure out how to separate the hub in order to install it into the new rotor.

Does the hub have to be pressed out? I can't find the correct method of removal in the Chiltons/Haynes/1973 Assembly manuals!!!

Thanks.

[TheWhiteElephant]

Come on guys, anyone?!!!

[68panelman]

hub has to be pressed out/,on. Bring it to your mom/pop auto parts,not the air freshner specialists

[TheWhiteElephant]

Okay, so I guess I'm just talking to myself here (should have posted a "show us your ______ pictures" post to get some responses I guess), but I got it all figured out. Hopefully this will help anyone in the future with the same issue...

First off, I cleaned up the rotor and removed all the dirt and gunk around it. If you have time, and if things look really rusty, then you will probably want to spray some PB Blaster in this area the night before and let it soak. Then you have to remove the wheel studs. Spray them with PB Blaster also. These need to be out before you can separate the hub from the rotor because they hold the 2 together. I just banged them out with a 4 lb sledge. Be sure to screw in the lug nuts flush to the studs so you won't damage the studs:




Then I took a good ol' Harbor Freight chisel and lightly tapped it right here...




You have to be careful, though because you don't want to warp or cause any other damage to anything. I used a 3 pound sledge. The trick is to wedge the chisel right between that seam and give it a solid whack. Just one will do because the chisel will hop around. Keep doing the same thing all around the hub and you will see that it will eventually separate itself from the rotor. The pictures show the hub already separating, but at first it will look pretty tight. You have to whack it right in the center of the seam. It will take a few whacks all around before you start to see separation, but it will happen. Don't use too small a hammer, either.

I should have probably removed the seal, races, and bearing beforehand, but I'll do that on the other one.

Anyway, I hope this helps someone out there. I'll post a complete how to when I'm all done.

[TheWhiteElephant]

Originally Posted by 68panelman

hub has to be pressed out/,on. Bring it to your mom/pop auto parts,not the air freshner specialists

Oops, sorry, I guess we were posting at the same time. It won't actually have to be pressed in or out with a press. Refer to my previous post, and thanks for the reply!

[TheWhiteElephant]

(And fer chrissakes, don't do this in your sandals like I did...)

[71blazerdetroit]

Originally Posted by TheWhiteElephant

(And fer chrissakes, don't do this in your sandals like I did...)

How many piggies were hurt in the production of this thread?

Sorry I didnt see this sooner to help, usaully their just rusted together.

BTW, when you throw them back together anti-seize will be your friend for the next time.

[Big-Blue]

How did you remove the bearings and races from the hub?

[obijuan]

the front outer bearing falls out. the inner bearing falls out when the seal is removed. the races are punched out.

[blue70k5]

After quite a bit of reaearch I bought a set of brass drifts to drive the races out...worked really well and the brass won't scratch the inner hub surface since it's a softer metal than steel.
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[Big-Blue]

thanks gentlemen