H3 Oh Great, random front end clunk

[fowlken8]

I’m just fuking things up now. Need a new axle now cause I just accidentally ruined the threads. I cannot get it out of the hub. Lower control arm won’t come out of the hub either. I need to take a break before I break more things

I’ve changed so many axles and wheel bearings before! This has never been an issue. My brain is melting

 

[fowlken8]

I’m thinking of taking off the front sway bar link and lower shock mount soon so I can get the lower arm out of the hub.

 

[fowlken8]

Update. Had to remove Lower shock mount to take axle out. Had to pound out the lower control arm.

hub WILL NOT COME FREE FROM KNUCKLE. Sledge hammer. Heat. Penetrating oils. Maybe I can find a shop with a press?

Cj, have any knuckles from a SAS project?

 

[fowlken8]

On the first pic if you zoom in, you can se the hammer hits on the sidewall of the hubs

my hub is like bending, multiple degrees. It looks dead. I need a press. I have hit it so hard that I feel bad.

 

[Jeepwalker]

Yeah they can be bugger! Did you put a piece of pipe under the lower A-arm between it and the concrete? Go buy a section of 2" square tube. 1/8" wall thickness. The lower U-joint will fit right inside. That's the key. Then the knuckle is directly supported to the concrete and you are getting solid hits. I mean makes all the difference. I've remove several hubs (hummer and others) and getting solid hits is the key. Or you could get a piece of 2" angle iron at the HW store and weld it into sq tube.

You can probably clean up your axle threads with some careful work with a thread-cleaning file and hacksaw blade (to straighten out the threads). You don't need ALL the threads. You can grind some of the damaged threads off.

It's another reason I said to get the best hub you can buy. This isn't a job you want to do 2 yrs from now because a guy saved $100 on an import hub. Borrow a buddy's dial indicator and double-check your new hub face for 'true'. I mean, you'll really kick yourself if yer new Chinese hub comes pre-warped like the one I bought from OReilleys, and you have to go through this all over again..

Keep at it, you'll get it...

 

[fowlken8]

I didn’t use square tubing, but I did have it leveraged on my Jack with a rubber platform. I “think” it was stable. I’m just actually sore from this haha. I’ve removed hubs from a Nissan Titan, Toyota Highlander, my previous H3, an Audi Q5, a Dodge Ram and a frontier. I’ve done this so many times (to me) and there were difficult times, but this is not budging a millimeter. Pullers don’t work, monster hammers, sprays, pry bars. Whacking it up down, front back, left right. Took the knuckle off, propped it up on two pieces of wood and am hitting it like I’m chopping wood.

I’ve tried everything in this video https://youtube.com/watch?v=JKcgXmX8oBo&feature=share

 

[Jeepwalker]

Don't you have any pieces of steel around yer place (or neighbor/buddy) you can put the knuckle on? The key is to support the knuckle directly to the concrete. I'm trying to give you a valuable energy-saving tip you won't find in youtube videos

 

[fowlken8]

No I understand. I’m not disregarding your tips, my hub and knuckle have some unusual rust issues compared to the rest of my H3. I have a 2ft rust dust circle of death from my pounding on it. I mean, this axle was seemingly welded in. I promise you I hit it so many times and so hard that the threads bent sideways.

I am the neighbor or buddy with tons of tools, weird pieces of wood, metal, etc.

 

[Jeepwalker]

I am the neighbor or buddy with tons of tools, weird pieces of wood, metal, etc.

Me too!! :giggle:

I feel for ya. How can you have tons of rust ...in AZ? (just kidding). Mine is from Chicago/WI, where rust rules!!

I had a Jeep hub several years ago that almost whooped my butt (for days!). I'll never forget that one. That's about the time I started putting heavy steel under the knuckles. Finally got it. My H3 hubs were on super tight too. Pretty deformed by the time I got them.

It probably won't help, but there's a gap next to where the ABS wires come out of the hub, where a guy can get a straw from a can of penetrating fluid in there. It's really difficult to get a significant amt of penetrating fluid to where it does any good on these hubs (or most other hubs).

How heavy is your hammer/maul?

 

[fowlken8]

Hahaha that gap…I sprayed in that exact spot. I used my thickest screwdriver and pounded it in there tried to pry a little, and I broke the head off.

the hammer…I think think is an 8lb head. I lift six days a week and do cardio every day. I’m legit hurting. My elbows, forearms, hands and lower back are aching. I’m really trying to figure this out.

I am in New Mexico, pretty much Arizona. I bought the hummer out of Tennessee. But there is no rust anywhere? Hubs, rotors, axle…but the frame and everything else is good to go. Differentials, bumpers, paint…all looks “new”. This is why I’m surprised by this total nonsense bullshiit

 

[fowlken8]

Alright. My brother in laws did has a hydraulic press. Let’s pray it works out. Phuck all of this already haha

 

[H3Hummer]

Dude I hope you get trough that bitch, never saw that kind of problem to get the hub out... Your's seem to have a spell on it :giggle: and like Jeepwalker says, after that buy the GOOD once !I never save cash on important peaces or moto parts, always try to get the best for my rigs (like AC Delco...), so they live longer :thumbs: But unfortunately i've to get them all oversea .....

 

[fowlken8]

Alright, a torch and 12 ton press….30 minutes of nonsense and it’s out. Sounded like an explosion haha

I’ll buy a cv axle as well. That thing was rusted in pretty badly too. I might take a break today. I’m beat. I’ll probably get bored though and work on it haha

 

[Jeepwalker]

:thumbsup

 

[fowlken8]

Lower control arm nut and tie rod but are just spinning…..my last steps here and I’m stuck again

jaxk under the knuckle worked only to find a pinhole leak in the cv boot. Fuk my luck already! Take it all apart again

 

[Jeepwalker]

Dang ...don't you hate that?!

Many years ago I had a nice self-inflicted screw-up that really got to me. I did rotors, dust seals and spindle bearings on an 80's solid-axle Toyota. Guy's who've removed those 10 or so cone-washers and everything on the front hubs to re-do the spindle bearings and ball/knuckle oil/dust wipe gaskets know it's not a small job. I felt great and satisfied when I got everything back together and my tools put away .....till I looked over on the bench and discovered the rotor dust shields I FORGOT to put on!! Dough!! What a bone-head move there (by me). So, turn around and take it all apart again!! Live and learn, right?!

Sounds like you're making good progress though. Did you manage to save your rotor dust shield? Mine got mashed up pretty well during the hub removal job. I bought a new one anyway ahead of time.

 

[fowlken8]

I’m done, finally. This isn’t even a hard job! Haha I’ve done this on my previous H3. My FJ. Titan. It sucks, sure, but this was the devil lol

then I go on a test drive and the car next to me sounds like a drum line. Has me freaking out haha but things are smooth, 2 auto zones later I found my axle, reassembly was a snap.

I’ve read if you remove a knuckle you need an alignment after?

heck I even had time to mount my hi lift Jack and axe/shovel

I’m now prepared for an adventure I’ll never take! Thanks everyone for comments and advice. My venting sessions are annoying, so thanks.

saved my dust shield after using pliers and a hammer to straighten. It out. Those ball joints nuts and bolts were a task as well! Let’s pray my passenger side doesn’t take a **** now haha

 

[Jeepwalker]

On the alignment question, the main issue is getting the top ball joint stud in the same location it was previously. If it's slightly higher in the pinch bore it can change (slightly) the alignment. It would be a small amount. That assumes the lower ball joint wasn't replaced. If it drives ok and doesn't pull or wander, you're probably ok. If it does, you could try to re-seat the upper ball joint stud using the rust (or dirt) on the stud as a guide. That only takes a few minutes.

If you have $1000 worth of new tires and it wonders, then you probably want to deal with it sooner than later.

Glad all is well now..

 

[alrock]

Trying contacting Reloader - you're in town with us. He's got a press, torch, etc.

Thank goodness we don't have rust on our vehicles that stay in the SW.

 

[H3Hummer]

I’m done, finally. This isn’t even a hard job! Haha I’ve done this on my previous H3. My FJ. Titan. It sucks, sure, but this was the devil lol

then I go on a test drive and the car next to me sounds like a drum line. Has me freaking out haha but things are smooth, 2 auto zones later I found my axle, reassembly was a snap.

I’ve read if you remove a knuckle you need an alignment after?

heck I even had time to mount my hi lift Jack and axe/shovel

I’m now prepared for an adventure I’ll never take! Thanks everyone for comments and advice. My venting sessions are annoying, so thanks.

saved my dust shield after using pliers and a hammer to straighten. It out. Those ball joints nuts and bolts were a task as well! Let’s pray my passenger side doesn’t take a **** now haha

so.......you made it :thumbs:

 

[fowlken8]

Don’t you love when you’re washing your undercarriage after a snow storm and see axle grease flung on the fender well?!

what the hell guys. I’m gonna cry haha

 

[H3Hummer]

:gaahld grase or ......do you have a bad front half shaft where the grease came out?

 

[fowlken8]

I don’t think it was old grease. Luckily there was no grease that I saw….just awful clunking and “limping”.

haven’t checked the half shaft. I cleaned it all up and am going to wait a few days….

I’m not super smart. The half shaft is the part of the cv coming out of the front diff?

 

[H3Hummer]

yep, check the CV inner and the outer joint to front hub. Sometimes a bit off wood or so can cut a hole in the CV joint booter and the grase gets all out. At the end you will notice a clunck when driving or turning.

 

[fowlken8]

well, it's the outer boot somehow on a NEW axle. The first one legit had a "pinhole" and was dripping what looked like oil.

This second new one, is flinging little globs of grease now. What kind of luck is this? is it possible? the CV angle is not horrible at all compared to my other H3s.

It has a lifetime warranty. but this is just insane already guys. That job kicked my ass, but at least I have a new hub this time so no sticking or rust.