I hate stuck axles, rusty bolts etc
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 5:14 am
Went to fix my outer CV boot which was ripped on my 92 SS.
Pounded out the roll pin no problem.
axle nut impacted off no problem.
hmmmmmm it gets worse. The bolt holding the spindle broke, and spent a good solid hour drilling and trying to get it out okay. In the process, had to remove caliper, and caliper bracket to get the drill in there. Top caliper bracket bolt snapped off. did i mention that everything was sprayed with penetrating oil liberally, its just that rusted. There was so much penetrating oil dripping on the shop floor, we had to put down oil dry a few times to soak it up.
Rust sucks.. what should take 1 hour is like all day. bolt breaks, drill, tap new threads, find a spare bolt etc etc.
All is fine, i remove the lower ball joint. ONLY to find the Axle is actually stuck into the hub. It won't come out, tried a press, tried about all we could think of. so, now, my whole spindle, axle, is off the car on the bench. Tried a puller/press and nothing. the axle spindles must be literally rusted/frozen together. It aint gonna come out without a torch which i dont have/ And that would ruin the bearings etc....
So, off to the wrench n go tomorrow to get a used spindle, and axle, and the bolts I broke. If i have to, i can reboot my current axle which is stuck to the hub/bearing with it still on the hub it could be booted that way, but for future service, i think putting one that can be removed is the choice i will go with.
I already have the correct boots for my current axle, part numbers exact. hope the junkyard axle take those same boots.
Never buy a car from Minnesota, they must use a mag chloride deicer and it really messes up the bolts, nuts, for even general service.
Pounded out the roll pin no problem.
axle nut impacted off no problem.
hmmmmmm it gets worse. The bolt holding the spindle broke, and spent a good solid hour drilling and trying to get it out okay. In the process, had to remove caliper, and caliper bracket to get the drill in there. Top caliper bracket bolt snapped off. did i mention that everything was sprayed with penetrating oil liberally, its just that rusted. There was so much penetrating oil dripping on the shop floor, we had to put down oil dry a few times to soak it up.
Rust sucks.. what should take 1 hour is like all day. bolt breaks, drill, tap new threads, find a spare bolt etc etc.
All is fine, i remove the lower ball joint. ONLY to find the Axle is actually stuck into the hub. It won't come out, tried a press, tried about all we could think of. so, now, my whole spindle, axle, is off the car on the bench. Tried a puller/press and nothing. the axle spindles must be literally rusted/frozen together. It aint gonna come out without a torch which i dont have/ And that would ruin the bearings etc....
So, off to the wrench n go tomorrow to get a used spindle, and axle, and the bolts I broke. If i have to, i can reboot my current axle which is stuck to the hub/bearing with it still on the hub it could be booted that way, but for future service, i think putting one that can be removed is the choice i will go with.
I already have the correct boots for my current axle, part numbers exact. hope the junkyard axle take those same boots.
Never buy a car from Minnesota, they must use a mag chloride deicer and it really messes up the bolts, nuts, for even general service.