 |
|
Spend another day working on the Spec E30. I am doing the rear suspension now. I have a rear axle that will not push out of the rear hub. One side is out but the other side won’t budge. I even have the fancy tool to do just this. Any ideas? I need to get this car rolling right away so I can get it to the cage guy.
Thanks.
Michael O.
A picture would be nice. You talking about the half shafts that one end bolts to the diff and the other end into the hub on the trailing arm? If so did you unbolt the half shaft from the diff? I did two cars I had the whole subframe out with Trail arms attached. Took Trail arms off. and on one of the axle/halfshafts it was really stuck in the hub. I stuck the trail arm under a work bench so that I could bang the crap out of the halfshaft without the trail arm moving. It would have been better to pop it out on the car. It eventually gave and popped out.
We are talking about the same thing. I have it out and in a vice. Just can’t get the axle to budge.
Michael O.
Spray your favorite penetrating lubricant in the splines area. let it sit and repeat. Some of the possible reasons that halfshaft is stuck is rust and/or it got cocked in the hub. Might be worth a try to push it back in again (just a little) and then try removing again. You can always get a extension bar and BFG and pound it out but that might damage splines (or might not). If you end up using this method be careful not to damage axle nut threads on the halfshaft. (BTW, it easier to do this on the car, at least for me)
Good luck.
Igor
I have it sitting up with PB Blaster soaking in. Not sure what BFG is except maybe a tire. I did use a BFH and beat on it. It has only moved about 1/8". The other side came out with me hand tightening the factory tool. I may stop by and keep spraying it and will try again next Sunday.
Michael O.
ilateapex wrote:
[quote]I have it sitting up with PB Blaster soaking in. Not sure what BFG is except maybe a tire. I did use a BFH and beat on it. It has only moved about 1/8". The other side came out with me hand tightening the factory tool. I may stop by and keep spraying it and will try again next Sunday.
Michael O.[/quote] Use a chunk of broom handle wrapped in duct tape as a drift and whack the living hell out of it till it comes out.you may want to consider replacing the bearings while stuff is apart too.
I will give the broom handle a try. Replacing the bearings is why I am trying to get it out in the first place. I think I will go ahead and replace the CV boots as well.
Michael O.
Make sure you have the trail arm so it doesnt move and beat the hell out of it with a big heavy sledge and a wooden dowel, broom handle, what ever fits in the hole.
In my earlier post:
big extension bar = drift (wood or metal but be careful not to damage axle threads when mahhering)
BFG = BFH (typo on my part) Big F&*#@& Hammer
Igor
The bearing is junk…so BFH, Metal punch to fit into the "v" of the axle, PB Blaster, and some HEAT from a cheap propane torch. I’ve got a place in Atlanta that rebuilds drive axles (or, core exchange) for $95. Do you need one? Two? Let me know if I cann help. Robert Patton 800-755-1715
I went over at lunch to try again with no luck. It has been soaking with PB Blaster since Sunday evening. I took a punch and my BFH and still not move. I guess I will have to try the heat next.
Michael O.
Take lots of swings with the bfh, beat the hell out of it. I had to with one of my half shafts. It took at least 12, probably more.
Forgive me, I havent done this procedure in a while but I was thinking, can you put a generic 2 or 3 arm puller on it anywhere to push the shaft out?
Jones wrote:
IMO, you would be hard pressed to properly mount two / or three jaw puller. BMW has "special" puller that bolts to the hub utilizing lug nuts holes. It’s fairly easy to make one with same functionality though (I can post pics of it when I have more time).
I guess one option to get that axle out, if everything else fails, is to drive it out the opposite way. What I mean is this: disassemble inner CV joint and take cage and spider gear out as well, so that you are left with just the shaft on that (inner) end. Then use BFH and hammer on it - this will drive axle and hub out, and most likely wheel bearing (or at least inner race) as well. Then take it to the shop to separate hub from the axle (or give it a go yourself again…). You’ll have to get new/rebuilt axle and rear wheel bearing though, and maybe new hub if it fails inspection (damaged splines, etc) after you separate it.
HTH,
Igor
Generic auto parts stores have these universal pullers that bolt on to the hub. You could give one of those a try.
Igor wrote:
I guess one option to get that axle out, if everything else fails, is to drive it out the opposite way. What I mean is this: disassemble inner CV joint and take cage and spider gear out as well, …[/quote]
Never mind, don’t do this - I am not sure what I was thinking…I don’t think you can’t do this because of the outter CV joint housing - I don’t think that it can fit through opening on the trailing arm.
Igor