i am in the process of doing my rear wheel bearings and am at the point (after removing the axle nut etc) where i just need to remove the rear axle flange assembly from the rear axle. the axle is still in the diff. the shop manual suggests you use a copper hammer and beat on a nut on the axle. is that the best method of separating the two?



how about a harmonic balance puller? or would that just pull the wheel hub from the axle flange?



finally the shop manual says you can just pry the axle out of the diff.. isn't there a c clip or something?



i will be doing a bit of drag racing this year so i had better learn all about axles...



any help would be greatly appreciated.



howard coleman

 

ok. first after you take the nut off, you should be able to puh the axle inward a bit, it you can't then it is rusted. add some spray lube, and use a hammer as the book says, to get the axle out you will have to disconnect the lower control arm, so you can pull the whole hub assembly towards you, and the axle will come out of the hub.

On the diff side, yes there is a clip inside that locks it. using a big screwdriver, or prybar, wedge it between the diff housing and the axle joint, use some pressuer and it will pop out. to put it back in, line up the splines, and tap with hammer till it "pops" back in.