Rear hub and spline won't separate; ideas?

[s2per]

This forum is great and I've gotten some priceless info over the past few years, but I've got a problem.

Our '03 Explorer has at least one noisy rear wheel bearing. I've read the sticky with the various advise and good photos, but I can't get the hub and spindle assembly to release from the half shaft splines (both sides are being difficult).

So far I've done the following:
1) soak the parts in PB Blaster
2) ran the old axle nut flush and whacked it with various hammers
3) rented an axle puller and tried various ways to remove it
4) combinations of the above

I hate to try it, but can a torch be used to loosen things up? Like me, the car is Florida resident with zero rust (at least the car has none) but a lot of miles (211k).

Any creative ideas? Thanks, guys.

 

[lincolnshibuya]

take the spindle assembly out with the axle half shaft and use a 20 ton press to separate them or let a shop do it.

 

[mikeinri]

Are you sure all the hardware has been removed?

Mike

 

[s2per]

Mike--Yes I checked thoroughly. Everything else disassembled the way it was supposed to.

Lincolnshibuya--I've considered doing what you said until I read about what's involved removing the diff side of the halfshafts. It looks like I'd have to beg, borrow or steal (or buy, darnit!) the FoMoCo recommended tool for their removal. But it may be the only choice.

BUT, I haven't tried the slide hammer and hub removal tool combination yet. Has anyone else had luck with that? It's probably no worse on the CV joints, etc. than whacking the splined end with a hammer.

 

[s2per]

Okay how tough is it REALLY to remove the left side half shaft from the diff? I've tried everything including torch heat, hub pullers with 300 ft lb torque wrenches, and 10 lb sledge hammers on what's left of the old adjusting nut. The spline hasn't budged.

I think I'm going to need a 10-ton press to get this spindle off the axle shaft, so the axle shaft has got to come out. Any advise?

 

[mikeinri]

Can you post pics of what you have left?

Mike

 

[s2per]

Sorry, but I guess I haven't posted enough yet. I can't post pics.

 

[Exproblems]

Sorry, but I guess I haven't posted enough yet. I can't post pics.

create a free account at www.photobucket.com and upload your photo's to that site, then copy them into a new or previous post here at the Explorer forum. It's not that hard to do, just a little confusing at first.

 

[AlDeBear]

s2per, Over on http://www.fordbarn.com/ there are many posts recommending a 50/50 mix of Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) and Acetone in place of commercially available products, i.e. PB Blaster, Liquid Wrench, WD40 etc. The guys there swear it works the best in situations similar to what you are experiencing. It sounds like at this point you'd have nothing to lose by trying it? Leave the axle puller under tension overnight while the ATF/Acetone mix works. Also have you seen this youtube video? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfyqNoR02FQ Good Luck!!! AlDeBear

 

[s2per]

create a free account at www.photobucket.com and upload your photo's to that site, then copy them into a new or previous post here at the Explorer forum. It's not that hard to do, just a little confusing at first.

Thanks for the reminder Exproblems; I have an acct at photobucket and there's a few pics there now at http://s102.photobucket.com/upload?location=explorer rear axlea

And AlDeBear, the whole assembly is soaking in ATF/acetone right now.

 

[AlDeBear]

s2per, Apparently in order to view your photobucket pictures one must have a photobucket account, which I do not have. Is there a way to make your pictures 'publicly accessible'? Good vibes being sent your way! (And some 'shimmy, shimmy, shake for your rear hub and bearing assembly!) AlDeBear

 

[Exproblems]

s2per, Apparently in order to view your photobucket pictures one must have a photobucket account, which I do not have. Is there a way to make your pictures 'publicly accessible'? Good vibes being sent your way! (And some 'shimmy, shimmy, shake for your rear hub and bearing assembly!) AlDeBear

Yes on pictures that one has at Photobucket. You just have to "copy" the photo and insert it into a post you are composing or a post you already put up on to the board using the "edit" feature. I am referring to the picture itself, not the web link to view it. If you have an "Elite Membership", you can link photo's straight from your PC, and do not have to use Photobucket.com One tip is, on your camera, keep the image size smaller by taking pictures in "4:3 VGA mode". This makes it easier to fit (bit size) the photo into a post and for people to view the photo in your post. Hope this helps!

 

[s2per]

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/s2ps1/explorer rear axle/imagejpg3_zpsc65bbb4c.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/s2ps1/explorer rear axle/imagejpg2_zps4c9f68ae.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/s2ps1/explorer rear axle/imagejpg2_zps4c9f68ae.jpg

This is about as far as I can go without becoming an Elite member, but in reality I don't know if the pics will help much.

I've heated the spline/ bearing on the outside
I've soaked it for days in PB, Liq Wrench and 50/50 ATF and acetone
I've smacked it with a 12# sledge til the nut is mushed
I've used a hub puller with over 300 ft lbs of torque on it and smacked the hub and reachable inner cone of the axle while under pressure
Everything else came apart easily.

I really think I've got to get the whole half shaft/bearing/knuckle assembly off and have it pressed out.....or get another half shaft and knuckle at a junkyard.

But I've got to get this vehicle back to our son soon; he's driving around with his old dog in our Navigator!

 

[s2per]

Finally!

AHA! YES! More torque and creative hammering!

It's finally off! Thanks for looking and the advise!!

 

[AlDeBear]

ALRIGHT! Glad you finally got it s2per! Now to get the old bearing and race out and the new one in! Oh! The fun you are having! Congratulations on your success.

 

[mikeinri]

Congrats! These things are definitely character builders...

Mike

 

[extra-medium]

Air hammer. I watched videos on youtube of a Ford tech doing bearings and he said you can use the axle nut and a big hammer but be prepared to buy a new nut, or use an air hammer since there is a depression in the center of the axle shaft

 

[ROBinGa]

S2per I know this is going on 2 years but can you provide details on how you were successful? Sounds like I have exactly same issue and I don't want to give up yet

 

[s2per]

S2per I know this is going on 2 years but can you provide details on how you were successful? Sounds like I have exactly same issue and I don't want to give up yet

Hey Rob:
As I recall, I continued to use the hub puller and applied a lot of torque (think: 3 foot pipe on the breaker bar) while bashing the mushroomed nut with a hammer. Sadly, I damaged the threads on the end of the axle shaft, but bought a used replacement for about $75. Car is still running strong at 246K.
Good luck!

 

[ROBinGa]

I did same today with a 4 foot piece of iron pipe my son pulling and me trying to control it all with a long pry bar between two lugs. It finally came off about an hour later. I took my Dremel tool and ground down the end of shaft where I had mushroomed it just slightly enough so nut wouldn't go back on, but it will now. Thanks for the reply.