67RModel Posted December 15, 2022 Share Posted December 15, 2022 Below are two pictures. The first one is of the drive hub on my 1994 RD with 44,000lb rears. The second is of the drive hub on my 1960 B81 with what I think are 58,000lb rears. They have the infamous "cone" in the center of the hub. I am very familiar with wheel end tear down on the style of axle the 94 RD has. Unbolt flange and axle/flange assembly comes out as one piece etc. I have never messed with the B81 axles. I want to remove the wheels and hubs to get a look in there and get the brakes sorted and checked over. Is there any special process to follow with this style of hub? What will I see when I remove the cone? Is the axle shaft attached to it like my RD? Are the bearings in these axles running in an oil bath from the gear oil (like the RD) or are they packed in grease? I'm sure I have other questions but can't think of them now. Or I will have more when I start into the project. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjc transport Posted December 15, 2022 Share Posted December 15, 2022 same basic principle. only difference is the axle is not attached to the cone. take the cone off, grab the axle, and pull it out. than you can remove the nuts and bearings to get the hub off. 1 Quote when you are up to your armpits in alligators, it is hard to remember you only came in to drain the swamp.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted December 16, 2022 Share Posted December 16, 2022 Only difference is dont hit the cone on the end with a hammer, you'll bruise it and it will then leak oil out the press in plug in the center The bearings should be in oil, or at least I would expexpect them to be in oil Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Mack Posted December 16, 2022 Share Posted December 16, 2022 On the B - Model there may be a seal in the center of the inside of the hub. I believe the back half is greased and the outer is in oil... The last one I worked on, I removed the inner seal and put a modern seal in the inside. So far after over a year, there's no leak. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACKS Posted December 16, 2022 Share Posted December 16, 2022 Are u pulling the spokes and wheels together,are u familiar with the greased up board method,saves u a ton of work.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67RModel Posted December 16, 2022 Author Share Posted December 16, 2022 1 hour ago, MACKS said: Are u pulling the spokes and wheels together,are u familiar with the greased up board method,saves u a ton of work.. My plan was to remove the wheels first then take off the cone, see what I have, and go from there. I'm not familiar with the greased board method. I can't image how I would move both wheels and tires the hub and brake drum all at once. I don't currently have a cherry picker or gantry crane handy. It has 12.00-24 rubber on it too. Very heavy. But I'm open to any handy tips and tricks. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACKS Posted December 16, 2022 Share Posted December 16, 2022 51 minutes ago, 67RModel said: My plan was to remove the wheels first then take off the cone, see what I have, and go from there. I'm not familiar with the greased board method. I can't image how I would move both wheels and tires the hub and brake drum all at once. I don't currently have a cherry picker or gantry crane handy. It has 12.00-24 rubber on it too. Very heavy. But I'm open to any handy tips and tricks. Thanks. Yup super heavy,if u decide to pull the spoke and drum this is the way to go,brake has to be fully backed off or disconnected,jack it up under the box,remove cone and outer bearings,slide a greased up smooth board under the tires,plywood works best say 16 inches by 4 ft,lower the truck just enough for the tires to contact the board,the spindle should be centered in the hub,give it a good pull and they will slide right off,reinstall the same way,u won’t believe how easy they will slide off and on, Safety First always,good luck.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67RModel Posted December 16, 2022 Author Share Posted December 16, 2022 Thank you. I will likely try this to save myself the strained back from trying to lift up a drum/hub assembly and trying to slide it on without messing up the wheel seal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted December 16, 2022 Share Posted December 16, 2022 Or if your on cement or a nice hard area and have access to one of these They make the job very easy and it is much easier to remove the whole assembly with the tyres still mounted on the hub If you don't have a pallet jack then the greasy b oiard is the go Either way is definitely the easiest wat to achieve these things Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67RModel Posted December 16, 2022 Author Share Posted December 16, 2022 There is a bunch of pallet jacks at a local auction coming up. I'm going to try and snag one for a good deal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark T Posted December 16, 2022 Share Posted December 16, 2022 (edited) Personally, when doing the board way... I have a piece of stainless 3/16 and similar to Mack's dimensions (slicker than snot with some gear oil on it) . One thing you have to remember, years back you'd be taking wheels off like that for a brake job usually. (apart... brakes, a seal back together) if you get it apart and discover you need bearings or a drum, then this method gets as much work (or more) than taking it apart in the first place. The board way works, and probably way easier than comes to mind if you never did it. Trick is you only barely want the weight of the wheel end on the board. So you have to finesse it to the desired height with a good working jack.I also find if you have the other side of the axle on something like a 2 X 12 or something between the tires and the floor (or ground) to level out the whole thing to the same height as the side jacked up helps. Edited December 16, 2022 by Mark T more information 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjc transport Posted December 16, 2022 Share Posted December 16, 2022 i always used two sheets o plywood with the grease between the two if i did not have the dual wheel dolly jack Quote when you are up to your armpits in alligators, it is hard to remember you only came in to drain the swamp.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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