My 1999 Super Duty has manual locking front hubs. I have read the posts in this forum on how to take take them apart, clean, and lightly grease them so that they turn more easily. My problem is that I can't pull the outer part of the hub out after I remove the large snap ring. Am I doing something wrong? Do I need to jack up the front axle to take pressure off the hub? The truck has 90,000 miles on it and I have never had the hubs apart for cleaning or greasing. Do they normally pull out really hard? I can't budge them out with my bare hands! Any help is greatly appreciated. I have learned ALOT reading this forum.

 

Had the same problem when I went to replace the hubs on my 01'.
One side came right out with no problem at all. On the other side I had nothing but trouble and finally grabbed the center of the hub with a Channel Locks and had to yank on it very hard to get it come out and cracked the hub in the proceess. I can only suggest that you be very careful on the rermoval proceedure.

 

I recently replaced my hubs because I had the same problem you guys did. At first I removed my hubs and re-lubed them and they worked fine for about 3 weeks until it got really cold and the hubs froze up again. At hat point I was disgusted because I wasted my time. I looked into buying factory replacements but they were almost $200 each, not even for the pair. I then looked into warn premium locking hubs and they were $200 for the pair. I took me about 20 minutes to install them and I think they work 10 times better than Ford's. I purchased my hubs at an A&A Automotive store. Hope this advice helps.

 

Thanks for the replies. I know how to clean and grease the hubs by reading the threads in this forum. My problem is that I can't get the darned things out after removing the large snap ring! Anybody got any ideas?

 

Spray plenty of penetrating oil into the groove that the snap-ring came out of. Let it sit for a few hours or overnight.

Using a rubber or plastic mallet, tap LIGHTLY side-to-side and up-and-down. If it doesn't move, reapply more penetrating oil.

DO NOT USE WD40 - it is not a penetrating oil.

CRC 6-66, Liquid Wrench, PB Blaster or any of the other ones are good to use.

Again, tap lightly and keep trying ... it WILL eventually come lose and walk itself out.

Of course, don't go driving around without putting that snap-ring back in. Murphy's Law, that hub will suddenly come loose and go through someone's windshield

You could also lock the hub, put it in 4x4, and slam the drivetrain back and forth a few times. That might work it loose too... but be more dangerous depending on where you're doing it

 

it sounds like you got water in them at some point. P Oil and a bit of tapping. Try to do it after you run down the highway a bit to warm things up. it will help wick the P oil back into the hub. once you get them out make sure you get all the p-oil out so it does not break down the grease. while you have it apart, if you can pack the bearings you should do so.

I went with the mile marker hubs on mine. save the receipt and they will replace them... no charge. got them from Summit.

PP 99F350SD is a god!

 

I hope your hub comes out easier than mine did 3 years ago..I hub flew out the other was froze in there never to come out again. I drilled it banged on it and smashed it to pieces to get it out. I'll see if I can post a pic...The sides of the hub are aluminum they will dent easy and then they are junk.. I used warn prems I suggest you do also..

Dick

 

Thanks for the replies! Sounds like I'm not the only one who's had this problem. I'll try to do the job next weekend. It's -15 degrees F with 30 mph winds right now!

 

Whimp! We We were kids we worked out in blizzards at 30 below zero bare feet and we LOVED IT>No such thing as warm boots and gortex. Stuffed hay in our pants sawdust in our shirts and we LOVED IT!..LOL only kidding! But for real I was stationed in minot nd for 4 years so I know what cold is and it ain't no fun. We had -25 here in VT 10 days ago or so..I love my 30x40 heated garage..



Dick