Hey guys I need some advice. '89 cherokee, bought the complete hub assembly to replace a bad wheel bearing. Trying to get the old one out and it is not budging.

Found a DIY online somewhere and removed everything that attaches the assembly to the knuckle. Tried to use an extension in the hole and turn the wheel to push it out, this did nothing. Tried hammering with a cold chisel, also absolutely nothing. The brake shield is hammered and the assembly has large dents into it on the edges (where it meets the dust shield/knuckle) from trying to hammer the chisel in between.

Is there a better way to get these off? A friend said they used some puller tool but I don't know what that is for something this big. Going to try some serious heat this week and more pounding, but getting frustrated pounding away and having nothing happen...

 

I alwasy just beat it off with a hammer. The only other way to do it is to use a hub puller and a slide hammer. Make sure when you put it back on you use some anti-sieze.

 

Hmmmm Sounds like it's the first time they've been out and they've had 21 years to call the place home (they ain't movin').

So you have the brake calipers off (I've never owned an XJ that old but I assume the fronts are disc)? And you have the 3 star head bolts behind the bearing assembly off? And you have the 36mm axle nut off? But you can't get the bearing assemblies loose?

 

Kind of on the same topic, I have a 98 Cherokee that I need to replace the front passenger side bearing. Does anyone know if I can simply replace the bearing or do I need to replace the whole hub assembly? Thanks for your help!

 

You need to replace the whole assembly. You'll find that there's a wide variance in prices. I've seen prices ranging from $35 to over $100.

I'd like to know what's a good value myself. The hubs are the only questionable thing left in my front end.

 

When I goto junkyards to pull axles, i've found that if you leave the rear most 13mm bolt threaded in about 3 or 4 threads....you can put an extension on that bolt head and then wedge the other end to like the control arm or some non-movable object. Then have a buddy crank the steering wheel..............POP!

 

yup. I unthreaded all of the bolts and left a few threads on each bolt then hammered the bolts. Mine would not budget at all.... This seemed to work for me

 

since you replacing the hub anyways, a 3 jaw puller works pretty well

 

I just recently purchased a set of wheel bearings for my 96 cherokee. this is the best deal that i have found for them. i havent got them in the mail yet but sometime this week im hoping to get them. hope someone can use this site.

http://www.1aauto.com/1A/wheel-beari...04/277579/1996

 

http://www.rockauto.com/ Have you tried this? Timken unit for $86 and usually have the cheapest prices

 

pullers work like **** for these, in my experience.


unbolt the 3 bolts, leave them a few threads in, 3lb sledge, it WILL come out. you just can't be impatient

 

yea mine took about 10-15 minutes of chiseling before it popped loose

 

You do not need to remove the 36mm nut to take off the hub. The only reason to take that nut off is if you need to take the hub apart.

 

Gotta remove the nut to replace the hub unit

 

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/fro...id-pics-62597/