99 Montana transmission and hub questions

J

jubylives

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I will try to make this short. Was coming home from vacation when the pass. side started making a noise. Thought at first it was the cv joints so I figured I would still make it home. Well the noise got worse going through Omaha at rush hour so I kept going. Wasn't gonna stop if I had to there.

Got about 10 miles then it sounded like a helicopter was in the van. That low tone whop whop whop of the blades sound. I stopped and saw nothing. Slight vibration in the van with the loud noise. Got 4 miles and the front pass. shook real bad. Almost wreck from the semis around. Stopped and didn't see anything at that point. Drove it on the shoulder to get up a ramp and the pass. tire came off. I didn't notice there were three missing a second ago. It took all five studs off. So I figured the bearing went.

So in tearing this all apart I noticed I can turn the front wheels by hand. Like the tranny was in neutral but it was still in park. I started the motor and put it in drive. Pass side turns but now I can not spin the drivers side. In neutral the pass side still spins.

Now my questions. I can not get the spinal/hub assembly off the half shaft. Any idea to help. I destroyed two 3 jaw pullers trying to get it off. Even put the nut back on and hit it several times with a sledge. Not budging.

Is my tranny shot? The ABS and TCS lights are on. Any help would be greatly appreciated in the biggest way.

Jeremy
 
Also wouldn't worry about the tranny wheel thing I believe this is normal from what I remember I had something similar with my 2000.
 
Yea thats the part. I rounded off a bolt that mounted it to the spindle. So I picked up a used spindle cheap and figured to just take off the whole thing and replace it bearing and all. Now I have it off the strut and the tie rod off and the ball joint nut off but cant work the spindle/hub bearing assembly off the half shaft. Maybe I didn't use enough heat. It is averaging 10 degrees here.

So the tranny may be ok?

Thanks for the fast reply

Jeremy
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I just remembered I have the spped sensor disconnected. This may confuse the how TCS system possibly??
 
I bet you have the van jacked up with both wheels off of the ground that's why they will turn like that ,if you had someone hold the one wheel then the other one would not turn kind of like opposing one another, I think I explained it right its been a while .Well good luck and stay warm .
 
Ah I see. Maybe my paranoia is getting the best of me. I'm still having trouble getting the spindle off the half shaft. I thought about taking the half shaft off and take the whole thing in and have it remove by a shop. I can't get it off either. I've never had this much trouble before. Any tips to get these to come off?

Jeremy
 
Its been a while but I changed the knuckle on my old 2000 montana as far as I can remember I took off the tie rod and unbolted the bottom bolts of the strut. This is where it gets fuzzy, somehow I guess I disassembled the ball joints and this knuckle swung right off the axle/half-shaft pulled out of the back of the hub. Now when I got a used one from the bone yard it had the hub attached to it like the old one , I never separated them no need to.Hopefully this helps.
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Uhm...ok. So, you`re trying to remove a wheel bearing? A transmission problem would have other symptoms.

Is it possible the lug nuts were loosened by someone and the force of driving on loose wheel nuts broke the studs???

Ok. So, the axle sometimes 'freezes' inside the hub. Yes, put that nut back on and try whacking it a few more times. It might help if the wheels are turned slightly either direction. But, as previuosly stated, it`s easier if you remove the 2 botom bolts on the strut and have the hub assembly hang a little. I`ve used a heavy sledge on one axle and it took about 10 good hits. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AN EXTRA AXLE BOLT HAND WHEN YOU PUT IT BACK TOGETHER!
As far as the bearing goes, remove the 3 bolts and a sledge will work here too, assuming you`re hitting the hub at an angle. If not, a small sledge on the back side of the bearing might help. OR, a chisel between the bearing and hub. In your case, turn the wheels to the right to get a better aim at the back of the bearing without having to remove a tie rod end. You`ll also have to file or sand the hub before inserting the new bearing in there.

Lastly, you may find that the wiring was damaged or the bearing itself was damaged by the excess force of a loose tire. A new bearing might solve the TC and ABS light problem too.

Ian
 
Ok thanks for the tips fellas. I can't take the bearing off the hub as I rounded one of the bolt heads trying to get it off. So I figured I would take the whole assembly off in one piece. Sounded easier on paper. It is averaging now about 5 degrees outside so I may have to find a hotter torch and try heating the whole thing up. Maybe that will help some.

I've never worked with a vehicle with both front wheels off the ground and I know less then nothing about transmissions so hopefully I'm just scaring myself.

jeremy
 
Hang in there ,if I can replace the knuckle then most people can , I think you have a good idea about taking the whole thing in or even take it to junk yard maybe they will sell you a whole knuckle assembly ,or swap it out for you . You must live up up up north ,why do things break when its either the coldest or hottest ? Not fair
 
If you want to know about the tranny, you can always raise one side at a time. Make sure the vehicle is secure with parking brake on and wheel chocks in place. Have someone help you. Raise one side of the vehicle at a time. Place the vehicle in Drive. Let go of the brake and the wheel should spin. Have your assistant confirm this. Try this on the other side as well.

As far as the bolt you broke, if you have a grinder with a cutting blade, you could carefully cut through the old bolt on the bearing side of the hub, close to but not cutting the hub. Its not as difficult as it seems, but if you dont feel comfortable doing it, then don`t. Also, in the future, I find it easier to remove those 3 hub to bearing bolts with the strut bolts removed and the strut separated from the hub and the wheels turned to expose the bolts...if that makes sense!

Ian
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Yup. makes sense. I live in Iowa and it is fricking cold right now. Single digit highs and negative temps at night. Wind chills can make a grown man cry. It supposed to be in the mid 20s this weekend so I will give it another go then. I've been spraying penetrating oil in there hoping it will help. I've done this before on my 94 Deville but it wasn't this difficult to seperate the bearing and spline from the half shaft. Well I also did that in summer.

Jeremy
 
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