98 Explorer rear end stuck

[Sofa]

I bought the rear axle off a 1998 Explorer from the local junkyard for a 5-lug conversion on my 95 Dakota, and the damn thing wont turn.

I've removed both calipers, and the rotors refuse to come off. I think its the e-brake pads corroded/stuck to the inside of the rotor. This thing had been sitting for a while, so its really rusty on the rotor surfaces and most likely the inside too. The knuckle isn't stuck however, it turns a few degrees and I can hear the gears inside clack. The donor truck had a bad motor, so it isn't physically damaged.

Since all I have is the bare axle (they cut off the e brake cable with an oxy torch) my options for removal are kind of limited.

Any suggestions for this Mopar peasant, O Great Explorer Wizards? :notworthy

 

[vroomzoomboom]

the e brake on all our second gens are royal PITA to deal with, and that is the problem you are having. the ebrake shoes are hanging up on the inside of the rotors. i would love to help you, but i avoid doing them like crazy. you best bet, unless someone else chimes in is to do a search on how others have removed them on here.

 

[my98nnj]

BFH, some heat and water to rapidly cool, repeat, hit harder, repeat....

 

[JCat]

Use a bigger hammer. Really.

 

[koda2000]

if the parking brake shoes are hanging up (sounds like they are) you may be able to back the adjuster star wheels off. there's an access hole on the bottom of the backing plate. the star wheels need to be turned downward to back them off. you may need to use 2 screw drivers to do this as there's a do-hicky that prevents the star wheel form moving in the release direction, but it's not hard to do. if the star wheel will move, then go back to heat and the BFH to get the rotors off if necessary.

 

[Sofa]

Thanks guys, I'll have to try the heat/water and the star wheel methods when I get home. I'll update when I get it off.

 

[intelisevil]

I had lots of fun getting one of my rear discs off. I didn't care if I destroyed it because I was replacing it. I had completely backed off the parking brake pads, lubed, banged, pried, cursed and cried over the course of a week.

I went to Harbor Freight (with a 50% off coupon) and got this: http://www.harborfreight.com/5-ton-three-jaw-hydraulic-gear-puller-95326.html

It takes about three and a half hands to use it but it worked! After I got it set up, I carefully pumped it from the side. When it broke loose, the gear puller dropped straight down and the disc flew about 10 feet!

I hope I never have to use it again, but if I do it's sitting safely in its molded plastic case on a shelf in my garage.

Good Luck!
Dan

 

[koda2000]

I had lots of fun getting one of my rear discs off. I didn't care if I destroyed it because I was replacing it. I had completely backed off the parking brake pads, lubed, banged, pried, cursed and cried over the course of a week.

I went to Harbor Freight (with a 50% off coupon) and got this: http://www.harborfreight.com/5-ton-three-jaw-hydraulic-gear-puller-95326.html

It takes about three and a half hands to use it but it worked! After I got it set up, I carefully pumped it from the side. When it broke loose, the gear puller dropped straight down and the disc flew about 10 feet!

I hope I never have to use it again, but if I do it's sitting safely in its molded plastic case on a shelf in my garage.


Good Luck!
Dan

I find that many times when using a gear-type puller on a stuck part, once you get it fairly well tight, hit the part you turn with a hammer. that way the part might only fly 1 foot instead of 10...lol. the first time I used one was on my '62 VW Bug. I couldn't get the rear drums off. once they finally came off I realized I'd let the parking brake on.

 

[Flash]

I went to Harbor Freight (with a 50% off coupon) and got this: http://www.harborfreight.com/5-ton-three-jaw-hydraulic-gear-puller-95326.html



Dan

Now that's a puller.

 

[CorbinDallas]

Use an angle grinder and just cut the rotor off.

 

[Sofa]

Welp, I got them off and it ended sort of well.

I ended up taking my 3 pound sledgehammer and pounding the ever living **** out of them, and when that didn't work, we bent the metal guard back, fired up the skid loader, held the axle up vertically, and pressed the lip of the bucket down against the rotor. Popped right off!

The e-brake pads are destroyed, but oh well. It probably needed new ones anyways.

I think this is something along the lines of 'No replacement for displacement". Brute force for the win!

 

[SoNic67]

That's why I paid the dealership to fix my e-brakes when I bought the truck. I couldn't do it, Pep Boys couldn't do it either...
They are still not great, but at least they are working.