Front hub removal; Lock ring??
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Front hub removal; Lock ring??
I'm removing the front hubs on my late 95 Bronco (auto-locking hubs) after the brakes disintigrated and ran into some trouble getting them off. There is a lock ring seated in the hub that retains a metal cap (that covers the nuts holding the hub on), but there's no way I can see to remove it. How in the heck do you get the lock ring out? I can't fit anything between the hub and cap to get a bite on that lock ring. Do you bust the metal cap off and get a new one? Man, this is really annoying!
The manual was a great help, too. "Remove lock ring from hub." Great advice. I gotta send that author a nasty-gram. It's probably a two-minute job for a shop.
Thanks for any advice at all on this.
The manual was a great help, too. "Remove lock ring from hub." Great advice. I gotta send that author a nasty-gram. It's probably a two-minute job for a shop.
Thanks for any advice at all on this.
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The picture's not quite it, I haven't gotten that far. On the later models with auto hubs there's a metal cap that covers what's shown in the picture It's held in place b a lock-ring with no ends on it; it's a flush fit with the groove. The outer cap bolts to this inner one with the Torx screws. I've been working on that stupid lock ring with screw drivers of all sizes (down to jewelers sizes) for a couple of hours now, and the only thing I've got to show for it is a broken drop light. The metal cap actually sticks out of the hub about an inch, so there is no room to work between it and the hub.
Frustration's starting to set in. If the brakes weren't toast I'd consider taking it in. One pad came loose somehow and wedged itself between the rotor and spindle carrier, grooved the rotor beyond saving, destroyed the caliper, made a big mess in general.
I'm not going to get stopped by a $0.02 snap ring.
I hope.
Frustration's starting to set in. If the brakes weren't toast I'd consider taking it in. One pad came loose somehow and wedged itself between the rotor and spindle carrier, grooved the rotor beyond saving, destroyed the caliper, made a big mess in general.
I'm not going to get stopped by a $0.02 snap ring.
I hope.
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Take a screwdriver and a rubber mallet and tap the flathead of the screwdriver into the gap of the outer hub cover. Twist screwdriver a little. Slowly work your way around the hub cover doing this about every inch or so. It will slowly work its way out. If they have not been removed for a while they can be stubborn.
-Str0ud
-Str0ud
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Picture, thousand words, all that stuff. Here's a shot of what I'm looking at. I don't see a way for a screwdriver to get a bite on the lock ring. Perhaps I'm missing something.
You can see there's really no room between the cap and rotor to play with. Is this what you had in mind St0ud? I can attempt the screwdriver thing again, but I'm not too hopefull.
You can see there's really no room between the cap and rotor to play with. Is this what you had in mind St0ud? I can attempt the screwdriver thing again, but I'm not too hopefull.
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Green, Sorry don't listen to a thing I told you. Those don't look anything like any I've ever worked on. But have you tried running two of the torque screws into the holes and giving it a little pull?
-Str0ud
-Str0ud
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Yeah, I've given it a good yank. The problem is the infernal snap ring keeps the ridge of that blasted metal cap fixed inside the hub. I have to wonder why they designed it like this. Unless the metal cap is meant to be broken off I don't see how you'd service the front hubs. There is just no way to get that little ring off!
Thanks anyway for the advice. I'll keep at it since I already have the new hub/rotor assemblies/bearings & seals, and calipers. That's an awful lot of hardware being held up by those little critters.
Thanks anyway for the advice. I'll keep at it since I already have the new hub/rotor assemblies/bearings & seals, and calipers. That's an awful lot of hardware being held up by those little critters.
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Good thought, but no luck in finding a hole. Maybe I can drill one, but the chances of getting right over the lock ring are pretty slim. I wouldn't mind drilling the hub since I have new ones ready to install. Maybe I'll just drill until I hit it dead on.
Thanks for the tip.
Thanks for the tip.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: CT
smash the thing out, remove the whole auto locking hub junk and replace with some warn manual locking hubs. I have never seen that piece before looks like it should have come off with the cap. Hit the face of it hard with a rubber mallet, it might be stuck in there from years of gunk buildup.
Beer Fridge Finder
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 14,988
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From: Savannah, GA
I've got a 95. I run the Warn hubs now. I think you're looking at the "guts " of the auto hub... or somehow you took it apart too far... or that hub is junk. Either way, the Warns are between $40 and $80 depending on where you buy them but well worth the money. I wish I was there, because I'd love to know what the heck is going on!
Last edited by SDElwood; Jul 30, 2004 at 09:18 AM.
Beer Fridge Finder
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Savannah, GA
Wait!
I remember!!
There is a key in there, a flat thing that on the inside of the hub that you have to slide out with a pick. Little plastic thing in the grooves of the outer hubs. Slide that out and the hub will be in your hands. I can see it in the top of the top picture.
I remember!!
There is a key in there, a flat thing that on the inside of the hub that you have to slide out with a pick. Little plastic thing in the grooves of the outer hubs. Slide that out and the hub will be in your hands. I can see it in the top of the top picture.
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From: San Antonio TX
Okay I've a lot of expertise at this. P{ress in the auto locking hub and use a bent pick or a couple of bent picks pick them up at autoezone or some plce for about 4 bucks and then fish around a little with them on the insede edge of the disk hub next to the locking hub you will find a ring clip just hook it and pull it out and then th4e auto hub will come right out. suggestions for pressing in the auto hub since usually under a lot of pressure is to use a tie down stapp and a 2x4 over the flat face of it to press it in. Then just incase you have any issues with the inner cam assembly due to having heated up you might again have to use the picks to remove it. Once you get the auto hub out the rest should be easy to see and remove. If not there is another c clip holing the washers in remove to get thenm and the hub nut out and the cam assembly. Sorry no pics using computer at work. But the one right above this post is just as good.