How to remove a rusty stuck Wheel Bearing Hub Assembly. EASY! No sledgehammer required! 

Literally just spent about 8 hours trying a 3lb sledge, air hammer, crow bar, and heat gun trying to get a seized hub off my 08 silverado. Found 2 bolts, washers, and nuts, used old sockets for spacers, less than an hour later, new hub is in and everything is back together!!

I'm going to do this slick trick. But afterwards I'm still going to beat that bearing with the sledge hammer, just because.

This legit saved my life today. Was doing a 2012 F150 front wheel hub/bearing damn thing wouldn't budge for nothing in the world after 2-3 hours of using a Sledge hammer, Air hammer, and slide pully was ready to bite the bullet and take the knuckle off to have it pressed out somewhere but also didn't wanna risk damaging any ball joints or tie rods and making another issue to fix. Saw this video, went into my tool box and found some bolts and nuts and did the same process as you. The most satisfying noise in the world when you hear loud crack of the bearing as it starts to walk itself out. Got in out in less than 5 mins. Thanks so much.

For anyone trying this method. The issue is that "standard" bolts you get at the store (like the ones in this video) are only grade 2. Grade 2 bolts have a yield strength of 57,000 psi and tensile strength of 74,000 psi at 1/2 inch. It is far better to use AT LEAST grade 5 bolts (92,000 yield / 120,000 tensile) and even better, use grade 8 bolts (130,000 yield / 150,000 tensile).

One of the longest jobs that I had to do was replacing a hub bearing. Like you said, most videos make it sound like the part will just fall off once the bolts are removed. I tried gallons of penetrant (multiple brands), heat, sledge hammers, rented slide hammers and even enlisted my teenager and his friends. No luck. I eventually tried something similar to what you suggested and they popped off incredibly easily. The only thing I would add is to try using 3 bolts if possible. I found I made the job easier. Also use anti-seize on the new parts mating surface. It will make the next time so much easier!

Great method! Use a hardened steel bolt, washer, and nut to avoid shearing!

Learned this trick a while back. Couple of add ons that make this work better.. Use 8 grade harder bolts and nuts. You don’t break them as easily. Lightly grease the threads on the bolts as this make the cranking easier. And the best additional trick is to use an electric impact bumping it and going back a forth between bolts. BTW I will do the spacers as that is my next trick to add..

The best way in taking wheel bearing assembly out so far ! Awesome !!! Thanks !

For something to push against try using a old brake pad. The metal is strong and they are light enough to be easy to work with. 👍. Get er done.

This definitely works! After hammering on the hub for two hours with a sledge, went down to the local hardware store, bought the hardware, and boom! Had it off in about 20 minutes! Real life saver here! Also, have to appreciate the other tutorial videos that conveniently skip the banging and cussing parts!

I don’t normally leave comments but in this case I had to. I was changing the right front hub on a 05 Aviator and after over 6 hours of banging I was about to give up when I saw this video. It took me longer to drive to Lowe’s and get the bolts than it did to remove the hub with your method. FANTASTIC!!

Very helpful I’ve been surfing RU-vid everywhere with no help, this was very straightforward 👍

I spent 2 days fighting my wheel hubs and this was the only thing that would work. Thank you!

I'm a retired mechanic his method works I have some additional ideas that will help you also PB Blaster it's really well on rusted bolts also when I reinstall the hub assembly always put anti-seize on the surface area of the Hub this way if you ever have to replace it it will not be difficult to take out the Hub assembly also look up the torque specifications for your particular car do not over torque the nuts on the assembly and I put it on the shaft the anti-seize hope this information will help you

BRO!! 10 MIN OR LESS. YOU ARE THE MAN!! THANK YOU!! NOT EVEN KIDDING!!

I love you..... I tried like 2 other videos and like 5 other things. I took my front bearing off completely and took a hammer to it the first time, but I had to also replace the 2 wheel bearings in the back. Thats when i stumbled on your video... In 90 degree heat... i almost died then your video saved me. Thank you

I knew this but kinda forgot. So thanks for refreshing my antique memory brother! Really appreciate it a lot.. I now remember I had them break off before too and found that 1/2" grade 8 bolts saved that issue. Have a blessed day!

Excellent clear advice and demonstration. Many thanks.

Holy crap man you just saved me and my sanity 20 year old rust Chevy hubs did all the normal stuff found your video. Love it hub is out

Been doing this for years, always thought I should make a video of it as I haven't seen this on RU-vid before, only videos similar to what you describe in the beginning. Great job, great video, hopefully this gets around to everyone, makes it so much easier. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for the very useful information. This method you show in your video is the only way I could remove my wheel bearing and it worked perfectly. Two thumbs up

Definitely a simple and effective method. Thank you very much for sharing this tip.

Absolutely brilliant. This is exactly what I need to do. My bearing is rust-welded to the knuckle. Thank you for this knowledge.

Worked like a charm👍 Thanks you for sharing😀

You,'re the man! who would 've thought of the push bolt-method? I think I've just made myself A SELF PROCLAIMED WHEEL BEARING-MECHANIC!!!

I needed that last week. I had a stubborn Bearing. Great video thanks.

Done this job a few times and, you are right, most instructions just say pull off the bearing but don't say how hard it is and how to get around it. Excellent video.

Thank you for this. Been struggling with mine but I’ll try it tomorrow morning

Thanks so much for this video!! My 2013 Malibu has always been in NC(travel up North to snow country occasionally though). The wheel bearing hub wasnt coming off like the other guy's RU-vid showed, he did say it was great living in SW though, no rust. I thought maybe there was a bolt I hadn't removed but his video said only 3 bolts which were removed. After trying a few things I finally went to ACE and bought (3) 1/2" x 3" bolts, (6) washers, (6) nuts and tried what you said. It was still a struggle moving the wrenches but it creaked n groaned a few times and FINALLY came off. BTW, loved your laughing video, that really emphaaized how ludicrous it is to expect the hub to just come off :), very entertaining. Thanks again.

Spent all day on mine and couldnt get it off. All the youtube videos showed them just dropping off but glad i saw you with a big slage hammer too lol going to try your way in the morning 😊

Thank you for this. I have fighting a bearing for a couple hours. going to try it.

Could have used this many years ago when I did battle with my first hub. Best part of a day of hammering along with what I call "vocabulary building" and not in a good way. Tip 'o the hat for sharing this valuable trick!

Worked great on 2009 xterra. Thanks for the easy how to.

I’m going to try this tomorrow on a Crown Vic ex cop car. Thanks for the great video! 🤙🏽

Unfortunately I'm going to need this information this coming weekend. I sure do appreciate having it. I just hate changing cv joints but it has moved to the top of the to do list. This is truly a great strategy.

This video has saved me so much time and effort. Liked and subscribed 👍

This is an afternoon saving video! Thanks my friend!

Best trick ever , spent hours on my bearing last night and within 5 min with your trick the bearing is out !! Wow thanks a lot !!!! 🎉

I just used this method to loosen the bearing and used a sledge to get it fully separated. Thank you!

You are a genius that made this genius' day. Thanks for your contribution.

SWEET JESUS! It worked! Came off in less than 5 minutes! I LOVE YOU MAN!

Great, straight up video. Excacly the info I was looking for.

Thanks for posting this video... this was the only technique that worked for me after trying out everything other techniques found on youtube

Your bolt trick was the solution we needed. Nothing else we tried worked. We did use 3 hardened bolts with spacers for the removal. That allowed us to quickly distribute the load as we were pulling it off. We were working on a 2012 Ford Flex. The galvanic corrosion between the aluminum knuckle and the steel bearing is terrible here in Michigan. Thank you.

This is going to be a lifesaver!

Haven't tried this yet, but just BRILLIANT!!! SOME NICE fine thread bolts and maybe a trust washer too, and this is the makings of a tool set.

Very helpful , thanks for sharing.

Thanks for this awesome tips, I'm surely gonna try this the next time.

I'am going to give you one million thumbs up for this awesome tip.. Thanks

This is probably the most amazing thing I've ever seen you sir deserve a gold medal it's very simple and easy you have no idea of how many times I've almost killed myself to get a wheel bearing out thank you very much for putting that on here for people to learn

Genius... I still love my puller... but this is just as good...

You are a genius! Made my life so easy

I love how you kept it all the way real and entertaining.

A smart & easy-to-use trick!

Well just as i've been reading i finally did it and i have to add another comment thanking you for this video. Upstate new york rust. Got the bearing off faster than it took me to find which bolts to use

Excellent, EXCELLENT video

where was this last week when i needed it?!?!? thanks you tube.

Great Video, saved me a lot of time!

Great video I'm gonna need all the help I can find doing my drivers side brg on sunday on my 2020 camry!!

That's a good idea. I'll give it a try. Thanks

Thank you for the tip. About to do this in minus temps, fingers crossed.

I've done this method with rotors that have been frozen on where i beat and beat them with a hammer. The 2 bolt method works like a champ.

This is amazing!! Thank you 😊.

Brilliant 👏 Thank you for this video

Thank you for the video

Thank you for your video

Brilliant advice- Many Thanks!!!

Great video! Thank you!

AWESOME INFO DUDE!!!!!!! THANK YOU

Nice ideas thanks..

Great idea. Thank you

Thank you sir, this video is a 💎

Great advice! Thanks DVD:)

This video was a huge help thanks!!

Good idea and thanks for sharing. Using an impact and a wIre wheel clean up after is all that came to mind, along with an application of anti seize for the install.

Excellent common sense video

Thank you very much

This is great I’m gonna try this actually bought that weird yo thing but I don’t think that’s gonna work is good I’m gonna try this method thank you

Looks good thank you

nice trick. wish i would have thought of that over the years.

I'm due to replace my wheel bearings on my car. I've seen so many videos of people struggling and it's a little discouraging. However, after seeing your method, I'm feeling a little more confident. I don't have any tools yet and I'll have to buy some, but I'll give it a go - it's better than paying the mechanic $1500 to replace both front bearings.

Thanks I really need to try this !

Great. will be using these tricks

Thanks for the help

Thank you so much, I've been beating on this, and heating it with torch, prying for two days nothing worked until I saw this video and it worked out so well, again thanks so much. A fan, Ray V.

Slide hammer works amazing

good to know---Thanks

Thanks going to try it 😊

Great vid.

Good tip! Thx

awesome. thanks

Very helpful thanks!

Nice job!

Great stuff!

im in the rust belt too, whenever i have to do a wheel bearing job i mentally prepare myself for a wrestling match and have a recovery beer right after

Great tip, thank you 👍

Thanks for the helpful video. This weekend I changed the right front bearing hub on a 2006 Volvo S40 in my driveway. I first tried to remove it with a homemade slide hammer, attached to the wheel bolts, but after 20 minutes of hammering, it didn't move at all. I then removed some of the wheel bolts from the hub by pounding them out through the back. Using 1/2" bolts from Home Depot, I then used this bolt trick along with a pneumatic impact hammer. The hard part was finding a place on the steering knuckle where the bolts wouldn't slip when torqueing them. There's not much space on the Volvo. After some time, the hub began to slowly come out but it was hard work. Less than 1/2" distance after a couple of hours. Then 2 of the bolts seized up and had to be cut-off. I then went back to H-D for some more bolts and some other pieces of metal, which I used to help the bolts jam into the knuckle better. The rest of the removal went better but still took another hour or so. I then installed the new hub the next day, using a 5/8" threaded rod and nuts, which went down the middle of the hub, along with some homemade steel plates and some washers on the front of the hub and on the back of the knuckle, to provide support and counter-force. I then screwed the rod with the impact hammer, which slowly pushed the hub all the way into the knuckle. Next time, I think it would be a lot easier to just remove the entire steering knuckle along with the hub and then bring it to a place with a hydraulic press to have it removed and re-installed.

Yes this is the way to do it in comparison with hub buster that isn't cheap by the way. Also use grade 8 hardware it can handle more stress.

Sledgehammer marathon! Lol i felt that. Countless hours and still stuck. Hopefully i get it off with this trick.

Thank you this helped a lot!!!!