Brakes 1979 CJ5 Hub Assembly - Removal

[Kpasa123]

I need some help here. I’ve looked everywhere for a diagram of this front hub assembly. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get it off to replace the rotors. I’m unsure of the brand of hub. It does have 6-bolt pattern. Doesn’t look like a Warn.

All the photos and videos I have looked up have a spindle nut. There is NO nut. I’m at a loss.

Any help is much obliged!!

 

[CJ]

@Kpasa123

What is that front dif out of? Can you take some shots of the dif cover and knuckles? 75 CJs did not have disc brakes.

 

[CJ]

Ah, ! I miss read, it's a 79!
Still would like the requested pictures...

 

[Kpasa123]

Honestly, I have no idea what the diff came out of. I thought it was the stock diff. It’s been in a barn for 20 years and I scooped it up and have been fixing one thing at a time. Everything else on it has checked out so far. The first hurdle I’ve come to thus far.

 

[CJ]

Looks like a factory Dana 30 with those crazy pinned nuts.. Did you try unscrewing after pulling the pin out some then tapping in the slot in the CCW direction?

 

[Kpasa123]

I don’t see anything like that on this assembly. I’ve looked everywhere for signs of a nut or attachment. There was a split ring on the very front of the shaft that I removed. Still no movement. I can’t pry off the gear by any means.

The center of the spindle has threads but nothing was attached to it. Should I try a gear puller with a bolt threaded into the center?

 

[CJ]

1st, can you degrease it for a better view?
2nd, IIRC, pull the dowel out to release the lock ring.

 

[Kpasa123]

Let me clean it up. That is just a blob of grease.

 

[Kpasa123]

Any idea what type of axle/hub this is? I can’t find nada. It must not be a typical CJ5 front end. I’m about to go nuts on this thing. New rotors are laughing at me!

 

[Patrick]

Q-bo! Did you figure it out…

 

[Kpasa123]

Not quite yet. Not any configuration I can find yet. Is it a different locking hub or is it the whole front end? The splines at the front of the gear seem like they want to come off with a puller. I’m on the homestretch with this project and really hit a brick wall here. I’m hoping someone can identify this setup and the ensuing eureka moment.

 

[Patrick]

Looks like you’ve already removed the circlip that holds the manual locking mechanism (hub) to the stub shaft end. That’s what holds it in place if memory serves me correctly. Then it should slide right out. I think it is seized to the stub shaft. Try a large pulley puller or give it some controlled whacks. Once the manual locking hub comes out, then remove the large jam nuts and the hub/rotor assembly comes right out.

 

[Patrick]

This is what you are dealing with and should slide right out.

 

[Kpasa123]

Thanks Patrick!! Now I know where to apply my force. This helps immensely.

Is this a standard Jeep front end? Or did this come from a donor? Might help me out along the way with future developments with this bastard of a jeep.

 

[Kpasa123]

One more thing…could I use any type of gear puller to separate it? The rotor was fused to the hub plate. Not sure I’ve got a sledge big enough…hahaha

 

[Patrick]

To me it looks like a regular CJ axle.

Be careful where you apply force. Some giant Channellocks and a brass hammer might be useful.

Do not attempt to separate the rotors from the hubs until you remove the assembly as a unit. Drive the studs out and then the rotors can be separated from the hub.