2G Axle and Hub

[jim97gst]

So I have a ripped CV boot on my 2G FWD. I tried to pull the axle but can't get it out of the hub. I pulled the whole assembly including the knuckle and control arms and took it to a machine shop. They tried a few times to press it out but were not successful. This was at closing time on Friday. They're going to try again on Monday and put it in some kind of tank.

Anyway, my plan was to send the axle to Raxles to get it rebuilt. If I can't get it separated from the hub, I'm going to have to get a new axle and hub.

So I've got a few questions. First, is it possible to get the knuckle off with the axle still in the hub? Second, is it worth the $300+ for an OEM axle and the ~$125 for an OEM hub? I've read lots of stuff about cheap axles. Is there something better than Autozone but not as expensive as OEM? Will a parts store accept the axle core if the hub is still attached?

I don't drive the car much, but I don't want to put junk on and have to replace it again right away, even if it is free with a lifetime warranty. What about the hub? Is OEM the only way to go for that?

 

[ChiTownHussla]

To get the axle out of the hub, you just have to heat it up and beat the Sh*t out of it man...It took me like 2 hours but igot it done and my car is an older 1g...

 

[jim97gst]

So I just had my passenger side front axle rebuilt. I replaced the hub at the same time because I was worried it got damaged when I had to have a machine shop separate the axle from the hub. I reassembled everything and the rotor rubs on the caliper bracket. It rubs on the side toward the center of the car, so if the rotor were further away from the hub then it wouldn't rub. I pulled the hub out to make sure it was the same as the old one and it is. There was no problem when I took it apart, so I must have something assembled incorrectly. I have the service manual and it looks like I put everything together correctly. Any ideas? I'll post some pictures when I get home this evening.

 

[kennygw]

It sounds like you installed something wrong, I would say the easiest way to check is pull the driver side apart and check what it looks like there. There gonna be identical.

 

[SrKegler]

Is the bearing torqued corectly? Think it's supposed to be around 150-160#.

 

[jim97gst]

The new hub came as an assembly. I checked the driver side and I have it installed correctly. My latest theory is that the knuckle got tweaked when the machine shop separated the axle from the hub. I'm going to try and find a knuckle at a junkyard and see if that fixes it.

 

[2slow4now]

Is it possible your caliper bracket got bent? Maybe swinging a hammer a little and prying on stuff? Its ok we are all guilty of it. Did you have to pry on the knuckle? Maybe one of the ears are bent.
Does the rotor make contact all the way around? Maybe even check the hub centric center on the rotor. It may not be seating all the way down to the hub. Or the hub centric center on the hub itself may be catching on the rotor.

 

[jim97gst]

I don't think the caliper bracket is bent. I didn't mess with it at all. I whacked on the axle some trying to get it separated from the hub, but as I said, a machine shop ended up pressing them apart. It was not easy for the machine shop. They told me they had to try a few times and get it really hot to separate them. The axle has now been rebuilt, the hub is brand new, and the caliper bracket and rotor should be the same as before. I think it's got to be the knuckle. The rotor is rubbing on the inside of the caliper bracket so it only rubs when the rotor is fully seated on the hub.

 

[jim97gst]

Thanks for the help guys. It was the knuckle. $35 for a junk yard one and I'm back in business.