P38A Front hub removal

Hi,

apologies if this is another daft question but I’m in need of some guidance.

I’ve to remove my front hubs to replace the ball joints and I cannot work out whether I need to take off the big hub nut on the front or can I just remove the four at the back of the hub and pull the whole drive shaft out in one piece ?

any top tips on likely troublesome areas great fully received !

thsnks again

Bob

Do you mean the kingpin joints? You don't have to remove the hubs to change the ball joints, the ones on the ends of the steering drag link. If you do need to pull the hubs the entire axle will come out with the hub unless you take that nut off. When I changed my front right hub I had to use a large gear puller to get it out of the axle tube. It was stuck tight.

Gord Wedman said:

Do you mean the kingpin joints? You don't have to remove the hubs to change the ball joints, the ones on the ends of the steering drag link. If you do need to pull the hubs the entire axle will come out with the hub unless you take that nut off. When I changed my front right hub I had to use a large gear puller to get it out of the axle tube. It was stuck tight.

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Thanks. it’s the upper and lower ball joints on the swivel hub -but I’m going to change the track rod and drag link at the same time as they’re all showing wear.

I’m hoping the drive shafts should come out as they’ve been out recently to have the front diff replaced…

famous last words !

OK, sounds good. Pulling everything out at once should work. Tapping on mine with a hammer did nothing so had to use puller. I swapped one in from a used axle I purchased. I think the other one was not so tight so maybe you will be lucky

awkwardbob said:

Thanks. it’s the upper and lower ball joints on the swivel hub -but I’m going to change the track rod and drag link at the same time as they’re all showing wear.

I’m hoping the drive shafts should come out as they’ve been out recently to have the front diff replaced…

famous last words !

Click to expand...

No need to touch the hub nut.

Datatek said:

No need to touch the hub nut.

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thanks, that’s what I thought.

I’m guessing that removing the hub nut would allow me to remove the hub, driveshafts, CV’s and so on individually if that’s what I needed (to change a wheel bearing or something) but that for this purpose it’s fine just to pull it out as a whole unit ?

awkwardbob said:

thanks, that’s what I thought.

I’m guessing that removing the hub nut would allow me to remove the hub, driveshafts, CV’s and so on individually if that’s what I needed (to change a wheel bearing or something) but that for this purpose it’s fine just to pull it out as a whole unit ?

Click to expand...

Yes. Remember the ABS sensor.

awkwardbob said:

thanks, that’s what I thought.

I’m guessing that removing the hub nut would allow me to remove the hub, driveshafts, CV’s and so on individually if that’s what I needed (to change a wheel bearing or something) but that for this purpose it’s fine just to pull it out as a whole unit ?

Click to expand...

You only need to undo the hub nut if you are replacing the CV joint.
Good luck removing the ABS sensor, they can be a right bar steward.