Stuck axle help,please.

[drddan]

I am ready to remove the motor for the B6 swap, and I hit a snag.
The pass side axle is stuck in the hub.
I had this all apart last summer. Replaced everything, except the axles. Had no problems removing axles/hub then.

The driver side axle pushed in, with a push of my thumb, after removing axle nut, earlier today.

I have beat on the pass side axle with a hammer and a 1 inch aluminum bar, and even gave it a few whacks with my 12 lb sledge! No movement.

Is there anything I can do to get this axle to move?

Or I am I to keep beating on the poor thing till its gives up?

The offending hub:

[FestYboy]

PB and a good air hammer.... there's no easy way to do it.

[sketchman]

Had this same problem and ended up removing the entire hub and axle on an old BMW and being embarrassed by an old mechanic in 10 seconds. Take one sledge and one softer hammer that's still pretty heavy.

Hold the softer one against the axle stub and whack it with the sledge. I watched the mechanic I mentioned sit the whole mess on the floor, hold it down with one foot, and remove the axle easy as pie. Me and another guy had beat the thing to death for hours still attached to the car and it wouldn't budge.

[drddan]

No air hammer

I do have the 12 lb sledge, though.

It does not feel solid enough on the car to really get a good SOLID hit.
Everything kinda... moves ....when hit and absorbs some of the impact.

Off the car would provide some soildness, for a jarring impact when set on something solid, like a floor! :p
Those 'ol mechanics done did it all before us, and know their stuff!

I was hoping I wouldnt have to remove the hub and axle all at the same time. As my luck goes, the inner side will be stuck too! :eeeeeek:

Edit: Oreillys has an air hammer for $60. Hmmm....

[Movin]

For this kind of work you need a big air hammer..
or a big heavy dead blow. Your sledge with a double
sided hammer held in place to receive the blow would
be good. Lower the hoist and put the tire back on, with
it on the ground it will protect the LCA from punishment.

[WmWatt]

Try a 3-prong puller. Screw down tight and then tap bolt with hammer. Impact under pressure is a good way to break things loose. I take it that green stuff is grease?

[zoom zoom]

^

That's what I had to do with one of mine.

[DriverOne]

IF the air Hammer won't work, remember the

POWER OF THE AIR GUITAR!

[nitrofarm]

I am ready to remove the motor for the B6 swap, and I hit a snag.
The pass side axle is stuck in the hub.
I had this all apart last summer. Replaced everything, except the axles. Had no problems removing axles/hub then.

The driver side axle pushed in, with a push of my thumb, after removing axle nut, earlier today.

I have beat on the pass side axle with a hammer and a 1 inch aluminum bar, and even gave it a few whacks with my 12 lb sledge! No movement.

Is there anything I can do to get this axle to move?

Or I am I to keep beating on the poor thing till its gives up?

The offending hub:

Have you tried putting a large sledge on the back side of the rotor? If you havent try it. Have someone press the slege as hard as they can against it while you hit the axle with an equally heavy hammer.

[gauge_half_inch]

X2 with Arty. On blaster soaking for a few hours and a pointed punch in the air chiselwill free the most stubborn cv.

[drddan]

For this kind of work you need a big air hammer..
or a big heavy dead blow. Your sledge with a double
sided hammer held in place to receive the blow would
be good. Lower the hoist and put the tire back on, with
it on the ground it will protect the LCA from punishment.

Yes, the hub was just hanging last night, and I was tired. Didnt think about it being not solid, just hanging like that.
New attitude and new tools today. (3 lb double sided hammer to beat up with my 12 lb sledge!) :p

Try a 3-prong puller. Screw down tight and then tap bolt with hammer. Impact under pressure is a good way to break things loose. I take it that green stuff is grease?

Good idea too!

Yes, is grease. I put grease on hub/axle at install last summer

[drddan]

W...T...H...! :p

I went out this morning (half groggy still) jacked up the hub with the floor jack, so it wasnt just hanging there, grabbed my trusty 12 lb sledge, and just to see how solid it felt, gave the axle a very small whack with the sledge...

.... The axle just pushed right in!!!! No effort what so ever. Could slide it back and forth with my finger tips.

Guess I was either, too tired last night, or it was in a bind from hanging, or my final blow of the night freed it up and I just didnt realize it.
...or all of the above.

Anyway, I hope to have an empty engine bay today.

[Movin]

Last summer? weird it would go solid with grease on shaft

when you get it off look at the inside area for a ding or something that the
nut would force it through last summer. You might want to dress the dinged
spot so that you don't have to find this thread next summer!

[Movin]

Awesome!

[drddan]

Last summer? weird it would go solid with grease on shaft

when you get it off look at the inside area for a ding or something that the
nut would force it through last summer. You might want to dress the dinged
spot so that you don't have to find this thread next summer!

^^^ I must type faster than you..lol

The first thought in my mind yesterday, when the axle shaft didnt move was...

How the heck can that lock up in like 11 months?????

Cant explain it, dont care :p Its loose.