Need help removing rear backing plates

[P. Kennedy]

My old ones are so rusty, I can't get the parking brake hardware to work properly, so I bought some new rear backing plates from Bav Auto ($25 ea.)

I have the rear axles out, and I have tried to remove the hubs with a couple of different pullers from AutoZone rental tools, to no avail.  It seems I need the hubs out of the way as there are two 15mm bolts at the bottom of the backing plate(s) curtailing my progress.  I got the two 10mm bolts sort of at the top of the plates, and I know I could just cut the old plates off, but I need to remove the hubs to get the plates off.

So...bottom line...how the heck do I get the rear hubs off?  I tried a little pounding from the inside of the trailing arm which didn't seem to do much.  I have new rear bearings on the way, so maybe I can pound away and mangle the old ones?  Anyone ever done this before and can pass along some advice?

Thanks.

[Wizard]

The hubs are pressed into the wheel bearings. You really have to hit them pretty hard from the backside to get them out.

[P. Kennedy]

Ok, so now I have the diff out too, and I'm still trying to get the hubs off.  What's holding the hubs on, the bearings?  And the bearnings are pressed in right?  On which side of the bearing is the C-clip, inside or outside?  Do I need to remove the C-clips before attempting to remove the bearings?  You can probably sense that I am having a difficult time with these sons of bitches.  I've been PB Blasting the bearings every day for the past week, and pounding away with a 5 lb. maul and a 1 1/2" socket.  No budging yet.  I'm tempted to try heat next.  Any other suggestions?  I've looked on r3vlimited, e30tech.com and numerous other sources.  I made my own pulling tool with threaded rod, steel plate and some big honkin' nuts and washers, but the steel plate bent.  I think I will double the plate and try again.  I'm also going to look at Harbor Freight tonight and see what bearing pullers they might have.

[Wizard]

The hub can be pressed (or hammered out) from the back side of the control arm without the wheel bearing being removed. The wheel bearings are also pressed into the control arms, then a c-clip is used to hold them in place (I highly doubt they are going to move though). Look at the picture below to see how the assembly goes together:



The control arm is not pictured but you can see how the assembly would go.
Bearing pressed into control arm.
Clip retains wheel bearing.
Hub pressed into wheel bearing.
After axle is inserted through back of control arm (and through hub), nut and locking plate holds everything together.

Hope that helps explain it a little more....

BTW....Some people report that trying to remove the hub will destroy the wheel bearing. The inner and out races will separate. Not sure if you plan on replacing both bearings but you should consider it. Besides, if it is this far apart you might as well...

[P. Kennedy]

Thanks for your reply.  I'll dive deeper into the Bentley manual.   I have new bearings on the way, as it says in my first post above.