I'm having a problem getting the outside snap-ring out of the hub. I've been fighting with it with 2 screwdrivers for over a week and its getting very frusterating. Is there a trick to this?

Also, I stripped out two of the screws holding the hub on the other side, and I don't want to drill into the hub. How can I get these out??

 

I like to use a combination of a very small alan wrench and a knife. Once you find the gap in the ring, you hook behind it with the alan wrench and try to pop it up with the knife. Work it until you can pull it out with the alan wrench. Once you get it started, it's a piece of cake.

I think you're stuck with those broken screws, unless you want to drill and easy out them. I don't know of a better way to get them out. New hubs are only about $50.

 

Yeah getting the large snap ring out is the key to taking the hubs apart.

I assume you have found the gap in the ring. That took me two weeks to find the first time since I couldn't see the end gap due to grease and really didn't realize the ring was there.

I used a large machinist's scribe to get the edge of the ring lifted then you just kind of spiral it out of the groove. If you have trouble with the ring slipping, maybe you can clean out some of the grease to get a better look and a better grip.

You might use a needle nose pliers or one of those 90 degree needle nose to grab the top of the ring and pull it up out of the groove.

You got to get that ring out. Once it is out the rest is easy.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

Ever thought of snap ring pliers? Check your couch for change because that is what they cost.

 

Snap-ring pliers usually only work when there's holes in the ring to put the pliers through. I'll try the alan wrench thing tonight and if I still can't get it I'll try Jim's way. Thanks

 

The other part of your problem...

What do you mean stripped out the screws? Is the screw hole stripped and now the screws don't hold? Or are the screws stuck in the hole and just run freely? Or did you break off the head, groan.

If you stripped the hole, maybe you can use one of those Helicoils or thread repair inserts. You drill out the hole per directions and then insert the Helicoil and the thread's almost as good as new.

It has been awhile since I saw the insides of my hubs so going by memory of what I think the screws look like...

If the screw is in there and just turns, maybe you can get ahold of the head with some needle nose or small vise grips and turn it out. I have also seen some screw head "glue" (not sure what the brand name is) at auto shops that effectively glues the screwdriver to the head and then allows you to turn out the screw. Don't know if it works but may be worth a try. Some guys will tack weld a head or something so they can get a bigger grip. Maybe you could remove all the other screws and weasel the retaining hub out a little which would maybe pull the offending screws out far enough to grab them.

If you broke off the head, you might try the screw "glue" or tack weld or maybe a tiny easy out. Some companies sell screw drivers with a special head that allows you to whack it on the head or shank of the screw and puts some tiny dents in it so that the special tool has something to grab as you turn what's left of the screw out. They work well on screw heads where you munged up the slot.

Oh and back to the big snap ring, I mentioned large machinist scribe, anything that is pointy and small enough to get down in the groove and lift the ring should work.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson