Need tips on freeing a front axle

[StageLeft]

I have posted this on the max forums but no luck yet on getting a solution.

2000 maxima, passenger side axle. The axle will not come out of the car. There are three screws that connect the axle to a mounting bracket and they are undone, but there is enough corrosion between the joint and this bracket that it absolutely refuses to budge and thus the axle will not come out.

I have tried both hands yanking on the axle end.
I have tried PB Blaster (it's useless stuff anyway, but I tried it).
I considered removing the mounting bracket, but clearances don't allow it.
I have tried hammering on the axle from behind this bracket, but given that there is some exhaust stuff in the way, it's not been possible.
I have tried hammering at the "ears" that the screws go into.

I really cannot see how to undo this thing. I did an axle on a 97 max a few years ago and a few quick tugs and it came right out.

 

[iamwiz82]

Reattach the wheel to the lugs, then lower the vehicle sloooooowly. The weight should move the axle enough in the shaft to crack the rust.

 

[drnickriviera]

I had the carrier bearing on the axle rust in place on my dads lexus. Had to make a fork out of 1/4" steel and weld it at 90 deg to a steel pipe. That allowed me to hit on it from the driver side with a 25lb sledgehammer.

Try to find some Kroil. I love that stuff.

 

[StageLeft]

iamawiz, I don't think that's going to do it, this thing is on there like a mother@(*#er.

drnickriviera, I can see how that would work. If there was any way to hammer it from the driver side, it would surely come out. People on max forums indicate that the worse case is generally taking a heavier hammer to the screw hole ears and trying to make the thing twist in the bracket, but so far I haven't gotten it to move. I will try smashing it with a 10 lb dumbell tonight and see what happens. Otherwise, it seems to me that a slide hammer would work and I feel that if I had one I could possibly pull the axle out. Did you try that? I know a slide hammer is used to take the axle apart, but I'm talking here about trying to get it around the axle itself, not the outer joint to take the axle apart.

Come to think of it, something like a long metal S-shape would work becauise I could have one end of it on the back of the axle and the other smash from the driver side, which would transmit force along the axle and away from the transmission. Ideas? I don't think a prybar would QUITE be the right shape, but very close.

 

[iamwiz82]

Here's from a Nissan forum:

Jack front end up and remove tires. remove the center cotter pin. Have someone step on the brakes and crack the center nuts. remove brake callipers and tie them to top of spring. take off brake rotor. remove two strut bolts. pull assembly out and push axle through hub. hit it with a piece of wood or something if you need to. turning the steering wheel one way or another may help you get the shaft out. once you have the end out here's the decision. if you're swapping out shafts then you go under car. on driver's side us a pry bar or big screwdrivers to pull the shaft outta the trans. if it's stuck, try prying while someone pulls the shaft too. plug hole w/rag. put new shaft in. on passenger side, there is a bearing halfway down the shaft. you need to undo the bolts on the bearing then the shaft should pull right out w/o much trouble.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Reattach the wheel to the lugs, then lower the vehicle sloooooowly. The weight should move the axle enough in the shaft to crack the rust.

And if that doesn't do the trick, put the car in drive and floor it. :laugh:

 

[StageLeft]

you need to undo the bolts on the bearing then the shaft should pull right out w/o much trouble.

Haha, that's the funny part "without much trouble". The best I could find at home depot was a wrecker bar I will try and position in a way to get force against the axle but I'm not holding out much hope. I found a guy on the forums who had to use a dremel to cut a ridge in the bracket and chisel this crap apart.

And if that doesn't do the trick, put the car in drive and floor it.

Actually, and I don't think I want to do it, if I did have it on the jacks with the brakes clamped hard and floored it, I think this part might break apart. I won't try it, though.

 

[shocksyde]

spray the bejesus out of the area with penetrating lube and let that ish soak for a few hours/overnight?

EDIT: Well, apparently I can't read. You already tried that.

 

[StageLeft]

I bought some new sockets. I think they may allow me to undo the bracket. If I have to do that I will take itout and then can hammer it off when the axle is out of the car. God, what a hassle this has become. It's always something, isn't it? No car job can be straight forward. At least changing the oil is and I am getting quick with the front brakes

 

[drnickriviera]

I didn't try a slide hammer because I knew it wouldn't work for me. I had to reinforce my 1/4" fork with another 1/4" of steel and we were still bending it hitting with the sledge. Pretty much had to hit it as hard as we could to get it out.

If you ever get it out, don't forget to put some antiseize or grease on it to keep it from happening again. It's amazing such a small thing could save so much headache.

You're bringing back some bad memories for me. That was the time the transmission blew up in the car, so after spending an entire day to get the axle out, the job was only 1/4 of the way done. FWD FTL

 

[StageLeft]

I GOT IT!

I had to remove the mounting bracket for it. It then, with the axle and bracket removed, took 10 minutes of hammering to get it to detach. I can say surely there's no way it could have been done without that bracket taken out or doing what drnickriviera did--and by the way drnick, this thing has brought back bad memories from the first time I did an axle, too. That time I was cleaning one and thought it would be easier this time, but I never anticipated this bracket issue.

On board with the antisieze. I don't know why they don't put $.05 of the stuff on at the factory, it would save us heartache and save mechanics working on it heartache, too.

The bracket should go back in easily and I'll lube the sh*t out of the axle to get it back in without issue. Now for the driver's side, which in theory should be easier but I've already broken a socket and an extension thing trying to get a knuckle-bolt off, which is weird. Old parts, I guess.

I'm off to buy beer. My goal for the night was to remove the axle and nothing else.