For everyone reading this, please note that JohnWR and GXP-Coupe1 both
did not call me an idiot, hint that I was an idiot, or indicate I'm an idiot. JohnWR and GXP-Coupe1 have nothing to do with my comment about an idiot. I called myself an idiot because I jumped to the conclusion that I missed something completely. They, being gentlemen, made after remarks to ensure they let me know they didn't call me an idiot, which is 100% true.
GXP-Coupe1 reply included an image of a removed hub and an image of a puller tool, so I jumped to the conclusion that he removed the hub from the knuckle with that puller tool. I still do not understand how that puller tool pulled the hub off the knuckle; so this feeling of not understanding indicates to me I am ignorant, so I felt okay with calling myself an idiot.
JohnWR pointed out there are better ways to remove a stuck hub from the knuckle that has minimal risk. I agree 1,000,000% with his suggestion IF I were to service another person's vehicle that is not my property. There is a huge massive difference in the way I do stuff for customers versus the way I do stuff for myself. For my personal vehicle, I will use my own discretion and experience on how to deal with challenges, it is of my opinion that the cave man method will work and I fully understand the risks involved and I also access how will I affect other's around me. I used my judgement and determined I am not risking anyone's safety, the chances of a hub breaking off because i smacked it with a hammer is unlikely, again it's my opinion based on my experience and knowledge.
GXP-Coupe1, I believe, has pointed out that you should use a puller tool to press out the AXLE shaft from the hub.
There are two elements we're discussing here:
1) Removing the AXLE SHAFT from the HUB
Service method 1: As GXP-Couple1 explained above, use the puller tool to press out the axle
Service method 2: Ghetto slam hammer the end of the axle with the axle nut sitting flush at the end of the axle threads to protect the threads explained in Steelmesh post from 6-13-2016
2) Removing the HUB from the KNUCKLE
Service method 1: Use slide hammer to pull out, DO NOT REUSE HUB
Service method 2: Create custom tooling to press out the hub on the vehicle, see JohnWR post above
Service method 3: Use a hammer and wedge/chisel, from Steelmesh post from 6-13-2016
Sketch of Steelmesh CAVE MAN method to remove stuck hub (Michigan Car):
I have extensive hands on experience and took extra care to ensure the hub was wedged off as evenly as possible. This method is likely "stretching" the knuckle hub bore (probably not permanent deformation). I have experience working at a company called Hayes-Lemmerz and worked as a suspension fatigue test technician. I kept test up by replacing broken knuckles, control arms and fixtures in the test facility, where we used large servo hydraulic cylinders (MTS) to stress the living crap out of these parts.