edit: new problem see below

I'm sure this is Mechanics 101. I'm replacing the wheel hub. Wheel off, calipers off, axle nut is off. I'm trying to get to the Torx bolts, but I can't rotate the axle more than an inch. So I can't get the holes on the hub over the bolts so I can remove them. Both front wheels are up. I have put the car in neutral and tried to rotate the axle. No dice.

What am I missing? Thanks!

Feelingstupidcharlie

It should spin in neutral definitely. The other wheel is off the ground right?
-edit and when you tighten the axle nut up, torque it to spec not any more. I crushed a bearing by impacting the axle nut on.

Neutral and turn the wheel that still has the tire on it. That should be easy to turn.

Yeah Mike....

in neutral, the passenger wheel rotates, the driver wheel sdie that I have removed, only moves an inch. Is it because the brake light is on? It somehow locks up because the break light indicator is on? I'm stumped.....

Charlie..hold the tire on the hub and rotate it..

I think it'* a leverage issue.

OK. I told you it was stupid. I had gotten one bolt loose, but didn't back the bolt out completly because the hole wasn't aligned. It was hitting a flange or something that I couldn't see behind the hub, stopping the rotation.

Thanks and please continue with your regular scheduled programming.....

Seriously thanks, I would have wasted hours if you guys hadn't confirmed I was doing everything else correctly.

Hey, it'* called learning. Anyone who says they have never had a D'oh moment while working on their car is either lying or a flipping genius.

I just did the wheel bearing on my van last weekend. Couldn't figure out for an hour how to get good leverage on the rear bolts. Until my brother arrived and told me to turn the wheel.

Part II -

So I'm pounding on the hub to get it off, coming slow. I get it away from the housing.... get two pry bars behind... and out it comes.... axle and all. I'm assuming that is the knuckle it is still attached to. Am I cooked, or can I just figure a way to push that spindle back out? I thought I broke it back from the hub when I started. Was i supposed to pound it all the way back?

Advice welcome and some razzing if it'* good spirited....

Imgonnadothischarlie

Did you pull the whole axle out? don't pound it.. They pop back in..

Next time when the axle nut is almost fully off..leaveit on so it'* almost flush with the end of the axle and give it a couple good whacks to break the stuckedness.