This past weekend, I attempted to take the right front wheel hub assembly off to replace it with a new timken one. Reason being, it was loose, and also the sensor wire had snapped in half. Seriously WOULD NOT BUDGE. Tried many different jaw pullers, hub pullers, slide hammer, torch, wd-40, everything......put so much torque on a hub puller it stripped the inside of the lug nuts I was using. Had to button it back up and go shopping around for someone willing to put a customer supplied part on, got it done for 40 bucks, so not terribly mad, just hope they did it right. Anyways, was hoping for an explanation as to why it had seized so badly, I know they cant have been rusted that badly. Any possible explanations are welcome.

 

It happens, especially in the salt belt. $40 is one hell of deal, be grateful. Try changing a hub on an old body equinox, you usually end up replaced the knuckle too.

 

I had to replace the front hubs on my 4x4 truck, and they were a pain. No amount of pounding beating, prying or swearing could get them off. I used an air chisel to 'pry' them out from the spindle. I had to work my way around, and finaly they came out. There is no way this could be done with a hammer and chisel. You would be there for months. The air chisel does something like 1000 blows per minute. I had to regrind the chisel after each hub.
Also, there is a thing called a hub-buster. They bolt to the hub and you whack it with a sledge hammer (not a little 3 pounder, but a good ole 16 pound mf'er).
You buddy probably had a hub buster.

 

I've never used a "hub buster". Just my 48oz Vaughan and my air hammer. Done dozens this way.