removing front axel nut from wheel off car?

[WmWatt]

Looking for suggestions on how to remove the front wheel axel nuts from a pair of wheels I got from a wrecker. He cut the axels with a torch. I've tried locking the stub of the axel in a bench vice but no matter how much I tighten the vice the stub slips before the nut turns. I tightened the vice so much by putting a pice of pipe on the handle the vice broke. Looks like it will make a great door stop. I will try wrapping a lenth of chain around the axel stub next. Would like to hear from anyone who has got the nut off with the wheel off the car.(I've been spraying with penetrating fluid and heating with a propane torch.) Thanks.

[krbballer]

Two people, one with a large aluminum pipe wrench?

[Pu241]

take it to some one with a vice and impact wrench!
Never had my impact wrench fail to remove the axle nuts.
If you need to, grind some flates into the axle so the vice can hold it better!

Man, some yards are manned by retards.
Did he cut the tie rods and control arms off with the torch too?

[Mike McKown]

Propane torch is worthless in this application. Use acetylene.

[festivaWES]

cut the boot off of the old CV and see if you can jam something into the axle and bind it up agianst the spindle. Use a breaker bar on the nut. If that doesn't work I'd rely on the the inpact and vise trick John mentioned.

[gdawgs]

It will take a serious impact wrench. At least a 3/4" drive, maybe even 1". I know my 1/2" impact would never get one off.

Maybe try putting a pipe into the vise horizontally, then put your ratchet/breaker bar into the pipe with the socket facing up in the air. Next, put the axle nut into the socket, then turn the wheel to loosen up the nut. You may need a buddy or two to help out. You should be able to get more leverage this way.

Not sure if that all makes sense. Hope so.

[FB71]

??? my 1/2 impact easily spins off hub nuts.

[GenevaDirt]

Ummmmm....are you trying to remove the nut in the right direction? One side is left and one is right handed. Just a thought.

[gdawgs]

??? my 1/2 impact easily spins off hub nuts.

Wow, you must have an impressive gun! When they are really stuck on I have to jump on my 3/4" drive ratchet, which is around 18" long. So that's probably somewhere around 300 - 400 ft lbs I'm putting to it.

[Pu241]

Never had an issue with my 1/2" impact wrench when taking off axle nuts.
Just finished swaping in a new set of hubs and an axle.
Just for reference mine is electric and good for 250 ft-lbs of torque.
Certainly not the most powerful, but at 15-20yrs old it has served me well.
I did have a strut bolt/nut that required a breaker bar, but the axle nuts came off without a problem.

[nonamekid]

Ummmmm....are you trying to remove the nut in the right direction? One side is left and one is right handed. Just a thought.

Ummmmm....I thought that was only in the back of the car. All the festivas I have worked on have been standard thread in the front.

[WmWatt]

Thanks for the suggestions.
Originally I had removed the vise from the workbench and bolted it to a 6 ft lenght of 2x10 lumber and put that on the ground I so could stand over it and use my full weight.
I think the problem was so little gripping surface on the round axel. The suggestion of using a grinder to make a flat surface on the axle would help. The rotors are rusty and will be scrapped so it might be better to put that in the vice for greater purchase.
I'm also thinking of bolting the wheel to the rim on the spare tire and maybe getting better leverage from that arrangement.
I will also try turning in both directions. I cannot see any thread to tell which way it goes. I was working on the driver's sidewheel first and turning in the usual anti-clockwise direction.
These are spare wheels so there is no rush. I'll post what worked when the nuts are off.

[neanderpaul]

Ummmmm....I thought that was only in the back of the car. All the festivas I have worked on have been standard thread in the front.

That is what I was thinking.

[GenevaDirt]

Ummmmm....I thought that was only in the back of the car. All the festivas I have worked on have been standard thread in the front.

well all the ones I have worked on have been opposite....probably why I have problems....lol. I couldn't remember ....has been a long time since I did an axle....just was throwing it out there. :glasses11:

[Pu241]

I will also try turning in both directions. I cannot see any thread to tell which way it goes. I was working on the driver's sidewheel first and turning in the usual anti-clockwise direction.

These are front hubs so the usual ant-clockwise to loosen holds for both driver and passenger side nuts!

Though trying to tighen them might help break them loose,
do not go at it too hard in the tightening mode!
Might want to consider turning the hubs nut side up and level them.
then fill the area around the nut with PB Blaster or the like and let sit over night!
Just a though as you don't seem to be in a hurry!
Good luck and be careful!