Using the hub as a "slide hammer" is a great idea.
If you need more "power", you might make an attachment for a slide hammer by
welding two nuts together- an old axle nut and a "rod splice nut" that will
thread onto the shaft of a slide hammer.
The REAL problem is often that you cannot get the hub off of the axel. It
often requires a LOT of tension and comes off with a bang. DON"T stand in the
way when using a puller. I have had them shoot across the garage with some
force!
Here's a bit from the bedside reader that might help- I hope you don't have
to do this, but just in case..
Fred Sisson
HUB WILL NOT SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE
Sometimes the hub just will not separate from the axle no matter how
much pressure you put on it with a puller. Don't damage the axle or hub with
too much pressure. If it appears that the hub will not separate then it is
best to stop and go to "plan B".
The dreaded plan B...
Plan B, is to remove the axle with the hub attached and take the
assembly to a machine shop where they can use a hydraulic press to press the
axle from the hub. The shop press is capable of much greater pressure than a
simple threaded axle puller.
This is a messy, awkward way of removing the hub & axle but it sure
beats having to buy a new hub and/or axle because you had damaged them trying
to remove them the conventional way.
What you have to do is remove the axle and hub with the brake backing
plate, axle seal, outer bearing race etc., hanging from it. You cannot remove
the brake assembly until the hub is pressed off of the axle.
First undo the brake line from the wheel cylinder. Then remove the
cotter pin & clevis pin from the e-break rod. Remove the brake shoes &
springs. Unbolt the backing plate from the axle housing (4 bolts) & tap it a
bit to insure that it is indeed, loose. Now the axle can be pulled out, but
it ain't easy as the outer bearing race is a tight press fit into the axle
housing. I put an old knock-off spinner on the hub and tap it (outwards) with
two hammers at once, banging on the spinner's ears.
Once the outer race comes free of the housing, you can slide the axle
on out. Take the whole mess to the machine shop. When the hub is pressed off
of the axle, then you can remove the break backing plate, wheel seals, shims,
bearing retainer., etc.
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