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Auto Hub won't Disassemble

1993Saturn

Well-Known Member
Joined
November 21, 2008
Messages
160
Reaction score
9
City, State
Redmond, OR
Year, Model & Trim Level
94 4x4
93, 99 Bauer 4x4
I have the auto hub off of my '94. when I removed it, I saw the bearing shield could move. This meant it was busted. Sure enough, when I pulled the snap ring, the bearing shield came out too. I followed the info in this link. It seemed simple:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1353302
Auto Hub Washer Fix With Pictures
MisterCMK
"Start by removing the snap ring. You'll see it at the bottom. It's the only thing holding the spline gear and pot metal cam in. Once you have the snap ring off, turn the hub over and thump it on a wooden or padded surface. The only thing holding the spline gear in now is friction with the center post and crud, so sooner or later, it'll fall out."


The cam slammed it's 3 fingers down on the board and I hope they are still normal. Then I used a board with a hole in it to try and slam the spline gear out the rest of the way.

It won't come out. The plastic washer prevents it from going past. What Now?:(
 



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That's strange, when I removed the snap ring the spine gear slid right out :dunno:
 












I will have pics tomorrow. Finally got it apart and now I can see why it wouldn't separate. Stay tuned....
 






I am finally able to insert a pic of what I was talking about. Been flat out like a lizard drinking (as the Aussies say) with vertigo.

The center spline gear middle tooth section had jammed up on the wave spring under the plastic ring. The spring I believe was damaged before I took the hub apart, because the race was split with a chunk out of it, top/bottom shields were unattached, the ball cage bone dry.

I put a couple of board pieces on my pounding board to make a hole, wailed on the hub some more and it came out. Funny, the other hub came apart with just one whack! The offending hub showed the wave spring running into the spline area, so I hooked onto the end and corkscrewed it out. It is quite distorted, as you can see from the photo below. I understand it's purpose: to allow some movement to the outer splines being pulled inward toward the hub by the cam, so the two sections can engage. This is necessary because there is no syncro ring to instantly align the splines.
IMG_0650.png

'94 Explorer Auto hub wave-springs. Left is normal. Right is boogered.

So, now that I have a badly munched wave spring, where can I get another? I thought someone said Warn makes them?
 






OH!! I forgot to follow up on this one LAST YEAR! I found someone with a set of hubs they didn't need. I robbed the bearing and spring out of it. It is a shame to ruin a perfectly good hub for a stupid bearing and a spring.

I contacted the company that builds the OEM hub units. Spoke to someone in person. I wanted to be able to buy parts for them. They won't!!! They say they have just enough parts brought in for complete unit assembly only. That is a narrow minded approach. It would be beneficial to sell parts, but then they wouldn't sell as many complete units! AARGH!

So, the hubs at the junk yard is the only way to keep our kool stuff on the road.
 






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