need tips on removing frozen rear axle/halfshaft

[chasiubao]

I'm trying to remove the axe/half shaft that connects the rear wheel to the differential. I've gotten the lock plate and big not off, all 6 allen bolts removed from the diff. The axle is frozen in there I've tried a puller/press, a hammer doesn't budge. I'm soaking it in PB blaster now and looking for a 4lb hammer-any other tips/tricks?

[e30Matt]

Stupid question, you've removed all six bolts from the diff but have you dropped the flange down so it's not resting on the diff's output flange?

Some PB and a BFH should do it, someone probably put it in there without aligning the splines and it's "welded" itself in there.

[chasiubao]

did that

output flange is free and clear, its actually resting on the muffler, doing the driver's side.

heat, with torch cold with some freeze off-would that help or make it worse?

[TwoJ's]

Heat is definitely your friend.

[delatlanta1281]

4lb hammer is for girls (sorry kellie).
You need a 12 lb and some ass. Get to it and stop being a mary.

[Brew]

Air hammer is what you need.
If you're going to use a torch, make sure you heat the area around the splined axle shaft and not the shaft itself.

[redhatpat]

You've dropped down the axle from the diff right? After that a steering wheel puller tool will work very nicely. I'd avoid hammers, too much stress on the trailing arm bushings, and they will flex, softening the hammer blows. You also dont want to fuck up the threads on the axle.

[Rigmaster]

Sometimes you just run into stub axles that will NOT come out without f'ing something up.


I've taken a bunch of axles out, for example- we pulled 4 of them last weekend for a friends car and 2 spares and they all came out with no surprises, no pullers, only one even required a light whack with a hammer + punch, the others came out with a light tug.


BUT, I've had about 4-5 of them that absolutely would NOT come out without ALOT of persuasion. I had to whack them with a big sledgehammer and round steel punch to even get them to move- 1 or 2 of them even then would not come out (luckily they were coming out of parts cars)- so they got crushed with the rest of the car. The others eventually did come out, but 1 of them was mangled up too much to reuse, the others had damaged splines so I didn't reuse them either. Seems to me that they must have been that way from the time the car was originally built- because all of them seemed to have the original locking plates and no evidence of being apart. (IMHO).


Anyway- I'd say to try plenty of good lube (PB Blaster or something similar) and then just whack it good with a BFH....


Bret.

[chasiubao]

this was the first time I've run into problems

I don't think the axle has ever been out of the car since the original lock plate was there as well. As for the axle, I'll be replacing that so I don't giving a rats a about it now. I'm going in with a torch and a BFH and punch, we'll see what happens. Won't be able to work on it for another 2 weeks since I'm on the road now and had to leave it. I hope its not totally frozen but the worst case scenario, I'm prepared for. I have a new trailing arm for that side, got hooked up with a new/used rear hub. The only bummer waste item is possibly my new rtabs that were installed and some brake fluid.

Any idea how to remove rtabs without damage if it comes down to that?

[chasiubao]

axle is out!

now I gotta get the hub and bearing out! Thanks to all the replied/helped.