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TR2/3/3A Rear axle hub removal?

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karls59tr

Obi Wan
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I need to replace the seals in the rear hubs. What can be used to remove the hub instead of the special tool mentioned in the manual?
 
A google search will come up with a couple of examples of hand made pullers. You might get lucky and get it off with a two point puller. You can also take the axle assembly out and do it on a press. Or take it to a machine shop like I do. Tom
 
Absent the factory tool (which you can't beg, borrow or steal), you need to take the axle to someone with a big press. There is a thread on this site with the design of a puller that would work, it is not worht the effort for a one off job. HOWEVER, I did mine (59 TR3A) last year and did not have to take off the hubs. Take it apart by the bolts that hold the backing plate, pull out the axle, and take a look.
Bob
 
I had the same problem with a seal leaking. After soaking the hub for a few days with PB blaster and WD-40 I tried removing it with a large wheel puller, bent that. I tried hammering and then put it on my press. That didn't work. I thought about taking it to a machine shop but was afraid they would damage it. I found this company in Kansas City that supplied used British car parts that also removed hubs. You could either send your hub to them and they would remove it (you pay shipping both ways) plus the cost of removing it, or you could buy a used one from them with new seals and no exchange and pay the shipping one way plus the cost of the hub. I purchased the hub from them and have had no problems with it. This was a number of years ago. What I learned from trying to remove the hub is that you have to apply even pressure on all four sides of the hub and it takes more then a 12 ton press to do the job. Good luck.
 
karls59tr said:
I need to replace the seals in the rear hubs. What can be used to remove the hub instead of the special tool mentioned in the manual?
Click to expand...

I suppose it is worth asking... How do you know you need to replace those?

There is also a seal inside the axle casing which is (in my experience) much more likely to wear and leak. If it fails it allows diff lube (oil) past it and into the hubs. The hub seal, I believe, is made to keep grease in but does not do so well with oil if it gets into the hub.

That axle seal is MUCH easier to deal with than the hub seal (piece of cake vs PITA).
 
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