I have a 57 chevy rearend in the 52 chevy and I need to pull the axles to chabge out the noisy wheel bearings. I removed the 4 nuts on each axle, and pryed the cups back, but still the axle doesn't budge. What's next? Start beating on it, special puller, some sort of retainer? Thanks for any help.......6 days till we leave for the round up, and really need to put some miles on the car this week....... -john
What happens is the bearing gets rusted in place, and sticks in the housing. special puller is a big slide hammer that bolts to three of the lug studs, you might be able to rent or borrow one from a chain auto parts store or equipment rental place, or a buddy who has lotsa tools. Or you can use the cheap version...a big piece of chain attatched to one lug stud, wear heavy leather gloves, pretend the chain is a slide hammer. There are other low buck ways also, maybe do a HAMB search
searched and searched before posting, always do. But found nothing, I'll try the chain deal tonight, then the slide hammer search tomorrow if it doesn't work... Thanks squirrel.
finding things with the search is not so easy...you have to know what the answer is, so you can ask the right question! bummer anyways, here's one thread http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3413
I've had limited luck (gets worse as the years go by and more crud builds up) with putting a brake drum on backwards with 3 lugnuts in a triangle pattern just a couple of turns. Use the drum like a slide hammer. Push the drum towards the axle, then yank it towards you against the 3 lugnuts. 50-50 chance of it working. 20 years ago 100%
use an axle puller.. i tried the chain thing once on a `60 corvette..when the axle came out it took off part of the fender i have an axle puller now...use an axle puller
Rent an axle puller/slide hammer. Only time I've ever been knocked out was helping my brother remove an axle from a 55 Chevy using the chain method. Whipped the chain, the lugnut came off, the chain hit me in the head. Another way in a pinch is to use a crowbar; the kind with the big curve spike puller on one end. Put the curved end over and behind the axle flange and strike the curved "elbow" of the crowbar with a sledge; rotate the axle every few blows and wear safety goggles.BUTCH.
I agree - use a slide hammer. I used to have one that was homemade using a spare axle and a cluster gear from a truck as the driver and a plate welded on the end of the axle to receive the impact.
I have used a big weight, a cracked cylinder head, with the chain method. Just use the weight for the inertia not big huge force. Yes it is dangerous, yes it is silly, but at 1:30 am it worked. BE CAREFUL !!!!!
Autozone will rent you a slide hammer for about $20...at one time it was a free rental, the $20 was a deposit you got back when you brought the slide hammer back. Call your local store.
Be careful once you remove the axle shaft. Those bolts that hold the axle seal also hold the backing plate to the axle housing. In other words, don't yank the backing plate and brake line off.
Made one back in the 70's but haven't needed it since. Worked great but sits in the corner collecting dust.
As a dentist, I vote for the chain method. We have an appointment scheduled for your root c**** and crown ($2,000) tomorrow morning......
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