Removing front strut from wheel hub

[Rosario7]

Hi all im in the process if upgrading my sportback with sline struts and springs but im finding it extremely hard to slacken the wheel hub.
has anybody got any tips for doing this???
cheers

 

[Khufu]

a large bar on the end of a breaker bar! We also have somebody in the car with their foot on the brake & car in gear.

 

[Paul Laird]

a large bar on the end of a breaker bar! We also have somebody in the car with their foot on the brake & car in gear.

Why would u need ur foot on the brake???
hub nut does not need to come off, if ur to remove the strut and spring??
u have 3 bolts at the top, 1 bolt that holds the strut to the hub, 1 nut on the antirollbar and on the n/s/f u have a 10mm nut for the level sensor on the lower arm

 

[Khufu]

Why would u need ur foot on the brake???
hub nut does not need to come off, if ur to remove the strut and spring??
u have 3 bolts at the top, 1 bolt that holds the strut to the hub, 1 nut on the antirollbar and on the n/s/f u have a 10mm nut for the level sensor on the lower arm

LOL, only skim read it. Yes, with the aid of a copper mallet you could chap it off the hub without removing the hub.

 

[RobinA3]

also give the strut/hub a good soaking in WD40 to help them to seperate.

 

[Rosario7]

Thanks for the reply guys, the problem i've got is that i can get the lower arm to drop down in order for me to then seperate the hub and strut. I've unbolted the lower ball joint, but it just stays there!!

 

[Paul Laird]

Thanks for the reply guys, the problem i've got is that i can get the lower arm to drop down in order for me to then seperate the hub and strut. I've unbolted the lower ball joint, but it just stays there!!

why u unbolted the lower ball joint???? i think u have took the bolts out at the strut top???the keep them in! (for now) take the droplink nut off at the top, move the droplink to the side, if i can remember there is 10mm bolts the hold the flexipipe to the knuckle take them out, take the spline bolt out that holds the strut into the knuckle, get a copper or rubber hammer, hit the knuckle down(takes a bit of time ) move the knuckle to the side, i used a block of wood to stop the knuckle goin down to low bec ur no wantin any probs with popin shafts or cv joints ect remove the 3 bolts at the top now job done, rear is easyer

 

[Rosario7]

thanks alot, ill try and do it as described, it was probably the cold that was stopping me thinking!!lol
i did the back ones no problem but it all went pear shape wen got to the front!ha ha

 

[Paul Laird]

lol wait till u try to get the nut off the topmountin without airtools this is the hardest part

 

[RobinA3]

lol wait till u try to get the nut off the topmountin without airtools this is the hardest part

swan neck spanner does the trick nicely! however after treating myself to an impact gun for xmas every bolt is a doddle to get off lol!

 

[-Ju-]

What you really need is a hub spreader that slips into the back of the hub and seperates it ever so slightly that the strut comes out easily. I got one from VW for about a £10 (Special tool 3424), its only a socket with what looks like a rounded off allen key bit but it works a treat!

 

[NHN]

I found it 100 times better to remove the whole corner & work on the suspension then refit, have easy access to all the areas then, much easier than doing whilst on car, VRStu advised me that & 1st time I ignored thinking would be easier, hell was I wrong, 2nd time took whole corner of & so much easier, kudos to Stu.

 

[RobinA3]

What you really need is a hub spreader that slips into the back of the hub and seperates it ever so slightly that the strut comes out easily. I got one from VW for about a £10 (Special tool 3424), its only a socket with what looks like a rounded off allen key bit but it works a treat!

big screwdriver does the same job when needs must lol

 

[Rosario7]

Thanks for the help and advise everyone much appreciated.

 

[Khufu]

Thanks for the help and advise everyone much appreciated.

Glad you mananged. You will need to let us know how it feels.