Rear hub stuck on CV spline

[ignis]

I searched, but didn't find much help beyond what I've already tried.

How can I get the rear up broken free from the CV spline? It's just the 35mm nut in the center, right? I didn't see any bolts on the back side of the steering knuckle.

I've already beat it with a BFH, Air hammer, and used a hub puller rental tool. The threads on the rental tool just sheared off with the amount of force I was using.

Any other suggestions?

 

[ignis]

Still no luck...! I've got another puller (3-prong) that I'll leave on over night at full pressure to see if that gets me anything.

Oddly enough the passenger side was essentially loose to start with! I tippy-tapped it a couple times lightly with a small hammer and gave way... Weird that i'd be so drastically different from one side to another.

 

[ignis]

Guys, I'm having one hell of a time. I got another puller and ended up putting so much torque on it that it broke the top hex head off!!!

I've tried heating it.

What is my next step? Remove the knuckle with CV axle attached and have shop press out?

Do I need a special tool to remove the CV axle from the rear differential/transfer case, or does it just pop out like the fronts?

 

[JCat]

Not sure if this helps: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Ford-Repair-811/2002-ford-explorer-rear.htm

 

[ignis]

Not sure if this helps: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Ford-Repair-811/2002-ford-explorer-rear.htm

nope, already tried all that.

 

[JCR]

When my friend (a very good ford tech) takes rear hubs off he loosens the nut most of the way off and then uses an air chisel with a pointed bit to burp the axle out of the hub. Works like a charm!

 

[ignis]

When my friend (a very good ford tech) takes rear hubs off he loosens the nut most of the way off and then uses an air chisel with a pointed bit to burp the axle out of the hub. Works like a charm!

Tried that too with no success. This one was stuck GOOD.

After wasting an entire day on it, I finally resorted to saying "F#@k-it, I'm getting a bigger hammer". Borrowed my neighbor's sledge hammer and with about 5 minutes of full swinging action, it came out!!! Don't recommend this to anyone unless you're already planning to replace the hub like I was. The safer approach will be to pull it out with the half-shaft attached and take it to a shop to have it pressed out.