Need help removing front wheel bearing! 2005 Ford Explorer 4x4

[GeneralGuy]

So I started to tackle removal of my front wheel bearing on my 2005 Ford Explorer 4x4, and got the 3 bolts out and all that jazz, but it still won't come out. After looking around I realized that the stupid thing had a ton of grey/black RTV sealant around it. I have no idea how to get this thing off now!

I put a slide hammer on it and hit it for a while and it didn't budge. I tried hitting the mating surface with a torch for a bit and then tried the hammer again, still nothing. I even put the weight of the car back on the wheel with it unbolted and turned the wheel and still nothing moved.

Any help or tips would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Number4]

That OE RTV is a pain. Been a while. I may have used a hammer and a scrapper. Working my way around a bit. I also may have beat the crap out of the old bearing with a 5lbs hammer. From all angles. Just make sure the negative cable is disconnected. Don't want any airbag issues.
Have you pushed the axle in a bit already? If the axle is fully inserted into the hub, it'll be harder. You can do it.

 

[bizzs]

Just did my bearing last week on my 2003. Put the nut back on the shaft to the point where the threads don't show and smack it inward with a hammer. Becareful not to damage the threads. Place a screw driver behind the hub and wiggle it out. It will come out with a little patiences. If your uncomfortable with doing this, rent a hub puller from your local auto parts store. The advanced auto parts store near me requires a deposit, but no rental charge on all tools. Deposit is refunded when the tool is returned. The hub puller works well with an impact wrench and the hub breaks free in seconds.

Good luck,
bizzs

 

[Mark4348hours]

Been trying for two days to get the hub/bearing off the front of my 2005 explorer. Even put the rotor on backwards and cranked a jack between it and the frame. Not going to budge. grrr

 

[apenland01]

Use a thin scraper/trowel and tap it between the hub and knuckle. You have to do this before using the puller. Here is the thread link to a similar discussion. I couldn't get mine to budge until I used a thin scraper and worked my way around all that sealer between the hub and knuckle.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums...ont-wheel-bearing.194002/page-17#post-3457603

 

[imp]

@Mark4348hours
Same situation, I ground a good cold chisel about 1/2-inch wide to a sharp Vee edge, drove it between the hub and knuckle carefully in a couple of places. That started the hub on out. Separated by about 1/8 inch, the hub then came out readily with the slide hammer. The deformation experienced by the knuckle was carefully filed flat, and the new hub went in easily, after cleaning out the hole in the knuckle. imp

 

[mbrando1994]

When I did mine (I believe still the original hub I took off), I used a combination of heat, a 5 lb sledge and an 8 lb sledge and just beat it off, just make sure your abs sensors and bolts are all the way out and it's not physically connected to anything. Hit the top, then the bottom, back and forth and it'll eventually come loose.

 

[IPcamper]

I have gotten mine off by removing the three bolts, putting the disc back on and placing three 1" to 1".5" piece of wood between the disc and the knuckle, evenly spaced around the disc. Then putting the lug nuts back on and slowly tighten the nuts in a star pattern to pull the bearing out of the knuckle.

 

[MrPulldown]

Put on a thick pair of work gloves and keep working that slide hammer. Took between 10-20 hard wacks to start to gap the hub/bearing from the knuckle, then another 20 to remove it completly. I mean I was giving it all I had. Hands hurt for about a week afterwards.