Help on disassembly of front hub et.al.

I'm a little ne at this. It's my first jeep project.

I'm pulling the front hub and drum to change wheel cylinders on my 69 CJ5. I have the lockouts off but there is a splined ring in front of the spindle nut that I have been unable to remove. Looks like it might be two part or have some sort of lock ring on the inside circumference. The service manual is no help on this, or if it is I have not found the correct chapter.

Does anyone know what this is and how to remove it?

 

I believe your talking about the lock ring. You'll have to find the gap in it and spread them apart and it will get large enough to slide out over the splines.

 

Is there a special tool for that or should I just monkey around with a screwdriver? There is a small slot on one side that may the spot you mentioned.

 

Yes there is a special tool, but it can be done with a assortmant of other tools. I have used a small pair of needle nose pliers and spread them apart, to release it. Screwdrivers can work but I have never had good luck with them. If you have a set of pics that look similar to what dentist have they sometimes work. Really hard to say, I dont think I have ever gotten two off the same way until I used the correct tool

 

I just did mine. Snap ring pliers are cheap and can be used for both external and internal snap rings. After the snap ring, pull off the other half of the hub lock. Then you have 2 big nuts with a washer in between them. Mine were loose enough to unscrew with my fingers (they shouldn't be!!). But a punch and a hammer will spin them off. Then just pull the hubs off. I am re-greasing the bearings while I'm in there. I got the grease seals at FLAPS. AutoZone even had them in stock at $18 for both. I'm using diesel to clean the hubs out, (easier on my hands than solvent but it sure stinks!!).
While I had it apart I've wire brushed the brake backing plates and painted them a nice pretty gloss black. While I'm waiting for wheel cylinders and speed bleeders to arrive I'm getting the hubs all clean, regreased and ready to put it all back together.

 

Thanks. I'll pick up a set of snap ring pliers tomorrow. Waiting on speed bleeders - Mine came last week, and boy is my 10 year old glad. They work great, and I can bleed everything by myself. Great $30 investment.

 

I'm in the process of doing this as well. I used two screw drivers to get the snap ring out. The big nuts use a 2 inch hex which I got from www.jeepdoc.com if you don't want to use the chisel and BFH method.