Putting axles back in?

[Brian 89 325i]

Any other way to get the axle back in the hub without having to tap in into place with hammer and punch/wood?
Im having one hell of a time.

Thanks
Brian

[DaN]

Put a little lube on the splines, make sure they are free of rust and shit, same with the hub, turn until it slides in, and get it far enough to get the nut on, then draw it up with the nut.

[Brian 89 325i]

Yeah no sliding here. They are lubed up and partially in but i dont want to beat on it anymore than i have to. Ive got the other one in, but this one seems really tight, I even removed it once to make sure it wasnt binding some how. Its just really tight. Bently shows some kind of puller, but i think thats just for pushing it out. If theres no other way ill just go back the hammer and board.

Brian

[DaN]

Hammer away :D

[oh2fly]

There is another way besides beating on it. You take an old axle nut, grind it down real thin, weld it on a piece of all thread 1/2 inch rod and with some sockets as spacers, then slide the rod throuh the bearing from thre outside, thread it on the axle and draw it in to the bearing pressing ONLY on the inner race by turning a nut against the socket. Too easy to trash an axle beating on it.

[AdamF 88iS]

Clean up the splines a little bit with a small file, and give them a little lube. Usually it will go together like butter if you take your time with the file