Tool and Method For Removing A Wheel Hub Assembly

摘要

A wheel hub removal tool is provided that allows a single technician to readily remove the hub using the vehicle steering. The tool is a generally U-shaped bracket that is seated on the ball-joint to support a pair of arms on opposite sides of the U-joint assembly. The arms carry corresponding blocks that are sized to seat between the drive axle housing and a component of the U-joint that is coupled to the wheel hub. The tool maintains a block on either side of the U-joint assembly so that pressure may be applied alternatively between the blocks to gradually dislodge the wheel hub from the axle. The tool is adjustable to accommodate different axle hub and bearing assembly configurations for different vehicles.

主权项

1. A hub removal tool for removing a wheel hub of a vehicle having a knuckle hub and U-joint assembly between the wheel hub and a drive axle housing, and a ball joint connection between the knuckle hub and the drive axle housing, the tool comprising:
an elongated support plate defining a bore therethrough sized to seat the support plate on the ball joint connection; a pair of elongated arms mounted to at one end thereof to opposite ends of said elongated plate and sized so that the opposite ends of said arms are positioned in alignment with the space between opposing surfaces of the drive axle housing and the U-joint assembly; and a pair of blocks, one each mounted at the opposite end of a corresponding one of said pair of arms and arranged to be disposed within the space between opposing surfaces, each block defining opposite contact surfaces for contacting corresponding ones of said opposing surfaces of the drive axle housing and the U-joint assembly when the vehicle steering is operated to rotate the wheel hub about the ball joint connection.