that lil hidden key that u have to remove with a pick or something similar, its shown in the first gen brakejob diary in the useful threads forums, well that lil bugger is stuck and i cant get it out. its the lil piece that comes out so you can remove the big 2 1/2 nut to get to the bearing. any suggestions? i can get it to go in if i tap it with a screwdriver, i figured that might loosen it up, but still wont pull out. What if i bang it all the way through? plz help

first use brake cleaner or similar and spray the notch in the spindle to remove most oft he grease.
tap the spindle with a hammer and block of wood can loosen this sucker.
A magnet or O ring pick is the best tool to get the keeper to slide forward.

Another thing I have done is grab your axle nut socket with your hand, and JUST BARELY rotate the axle nut in either direction, maybe just a mm or two, and often times that is enough to loosen up the key. Sometimes the key and keyway are not perfectly lined up and slight rotation of the nut will line things up...

damn ive tried both these cant get the thing out, i cant even turn the nut a bit cus i dont have a 2 1/2 or whatver socket illl have to call a friend

can i do any damage drilling into it maybe and then tryin to move it out in reverse

yes
you can gouge up the spindle, it will come out just be patient or get the proper tool

That big nut should not be on THAT tight - you ought to be able to move it by hand.

well i dunno this is givin me a headache, ive tried bangin the nut in a circle with a screwdriver at an angle and hammer, wont turn, tried goin tight it wouldnt turn, in frustration i knocked the piece in further then it was to start thinking i would get it loose to come out and that even took a lot of force. I dont know ive spent 2 hours now and thats a lot of my night so im bout to give up.

410 fortune thx for ur help and 1 last question, is there a right tool to get this nut and lock key off or are u referring to getting a big socket.

Right tool to get the keeper out. Magnet I have used int he past, O ring pick I ahve used in the past.

You cannot take the wheel bearing retainer nuts off until you remove the keeper first.

If all else fails you can use a big screwdriver and just break the spindle nut where the keeper is and just replace the nut with one from the junkyard.

I ended up having to do this with one of mine. One side came off real nice and the other would not. Had to break the nut with a screwdriver and then I picked one up for about $3 at the wreckers.

yea i know the nut cant come off til the keeper is out, i was thinking get the right socket to loosen the nut up turning it either way then hopefull i can play with it til i get it line up with the keeper right so that it slides right out with a pick. i dont understand why the nut would be so tight that i couldnt budge it by hand in either direction and the keeper so jammed i cant get the slightest wiggle out of it.

Use a pin or something like that, or find a strong magnet. I had a problem with 1 because it wasn't centered, one end was pushed to the side. I took a pin and gave it a little push, then used a magnet to get it oot.

I usually use a small screw driver, with a magnet attached. Just tap it with the screw driver tip.
I have done the destructive procedure before by just turning the nut off which ends up cracking the nut. Teh as stated above, you get a replacement from a junk yard.

finally at 10 pm, 6 hours after i started with a break for dinner and computer runs and a few times giving up, i get it out. kinda chewed up the nut between banging it with a screwdriver and finally pliers to turn it just right. Now the whole night is gone tho and im up on jackstands when i goto work tomorrow. good thing work is 3 blocks away.

Well just know when you put it back together it will come apart easier next time.
I was in need of a spindle BAD for my truck, supossed to go to work the next day, etc...Spindle from Ford is $275+, junk yards $40+, so the search was on.
Last place I wanted to go was denver Ford parts, they see $$$$ when I walk in the door, but they had 1 good one. I fought that sucker for 3 hours....tapping it lightly withthe hammer, removing the sticky grease, and getting the nut into the right position were the keys.
Then he charged me something like $75 for the spindle..I have 3-4 spares now....