In the pictures available on the net showing the front wheel bearings being
serviced, invariably the operation begins by removing the tie-rod end, and
the upper and lower ball joints, then after removing the brake caliper,
pulling the knuckle and the hub as a unit.
In the procedure outlined in both the x-7525 and the x-7725 service manuals
and the bearing puller instructions in the June 6 GMC Motorhome News, a
slide-hammer with a plate across two wheel studs is used to pull the hub
from the knuckle without removing anything but the brake caliper, leaving
the knuckle in place.
I just received my Warner puller, and I'm gathering other tools that I will
need in order to use it. I've fabricated the "strap" needed to use my new
slide-hammer, purchased a 1 1/2 inch 3/4 inch drive socket and a 3/4 inch
drive torque wrench for removing/replacing the axle nut, and selected
several allen wrenches that I'll need for the puller cap screws and the
caliper bolts. I have an old 1/2 by 9/16 box-end wrench with the proper
offset to get at the 3 retainer to knuckle bolts, and I still plan to put a
3/8-16 NC tap in the tool box to clean up the knuckle before trying to
re-insert those bolts.
Can someone tell me why, in the descriptions of this service operation that
I find on the net, no one seems to be pulling the hub from the in-place
knuckle as instructed in official maintenance instructions? Do I need to
plan on some additional tools for removing/reattaching the knuckle? Is
another tool going to be needed to remove the hub from the knuckle if the
knuckle is not connected to the front suspension?
I thought I had this about figured out, but there seems to be a bit of
confusion, possibly just a difference of opinion?
Comments, anyone?
Thanks for any light you might be able to shed on this problem.
Olin Boyer
77GMCPB
serviced, invariably the operation begins by removing the tie-rod end, and
the upper and lower ball joints, then after removing the brake caliper,
pulling the knuckle and the hub as a unit.
In the procedure outlined in both the x-7525 and the x-7725 service manuals
and the bearing puller instructions in the June 6 GMC Motorhome News, a
slide-hammer with a plate across two wheel studs is used to pull the hub
from the knuckle without removing anything but the brake caliper, leaving
the knuckle in place.
I just received my Warner puller, and I'm gathering other tools that I will
need in order to use it. I've fabricated the "strap" needed to use my new
slide-hammer, purchased a 1 1/2 inch 3/4 inch drive socket and a 3/4 inch
drive torque wrench for removing/replacing the axle nut, and selected
several allen wrenches that I'll need for the puller cap screws and the
caliper bolts. I have an old 1/2 by 9/16 box-end wrench with the proper
offset to get at the 3 retainer to knuckle bolts, and I still plan to put a
3/8-16 NC tap in the tool box to clean up the knuckle before trying to
re-insert those bolts.
Can someone tell me why, in the descriptions of this service operation that
I find on the net, no one seems to be pulling the hub from the in-place
knuckle as instructed in official maintenance instructions? Do I need to
plan on some additional tools for removing/reattaching the knuckle? Is
another tool going to be needed to remove the hub from the knuckle if the
knuckle is not connected to the front suspension?
I thought I had this about figured out, but there seems to be a bit of
confusion, possibly just a difference of opinion?
Comments, anyone?
Thanks for any light you might be able to shed on this problem.
Olin Boyer
77GMCPB
