February 13, 200719 yr This is not related to Subies per se,but it is auto related. I'm trying to replace my cv axles on my 96 Jeep Grand,the damn axle nut holding the rotors on will not budge. Tried my impact first,nothing. cheater bar on socket wrench standing on it just lifts the front end off the stand.Any ideas on what else to try? We used to use a torch on stubborn ball joints to heat them then smack with a hammer,usually worked,how about this trick here?. Have already sprayed a crap load of blaster on and around the nut yesterday and today,no go, but am worried if I apply a torch it will spark a bonfire? Need to get this done ASAP and hope you can help me out. Thanks- John
February 13, 200719 yr Don't do the axle nuts on the jack? Are you making sure to actually loosen the nuts?
February 13, 200719 yr what he said. They may be reverse threads. And yes you can heat the snot out of that bolt to break it loose Worse thing will mappen si that you need new nuts. Also dont rule out cutting the nuts off with a chisel. nipper
February 13, 200719 yr always painful to see people recommending that nuts should be broken off Sometimes you have no choice. nipper
February 13, 200719 yr Author okay-little update.Been out in the garage trying everything,heated the snot out of that nut (axle) put the socket with a shorty extension on with a stout cheater bar,tried putting all my weight into it nothing,so lined everything up,and stood on that puppy withthe rest of my weight and snapped that stubby extension right in half.So any other ideas? I don't have a way to cut the nut off other then to drill a series of holes through it which isn't a problem as the new axle comes with a new nut,but is this worth the time or should I buy a cut off tool of some sort( don't think an angle grinder will fit into the space the nut fits). Thanks again- John
February 13, 200719 yr Author Just reread the past replies-and the threads are not reverse as I took the new one and it spun on righty tighty.I took the car off the jack stand and put the tire back on,knocked the center cap out and then put socket on then stood on cheater with everything I had. Thanks-John
February 13, 200719 yr okay-little update.Been out in the garage trying everything,heated the snot out of that nut (axle) put the socket with a shorty extension on with a stout cheater bar,tried putting all my weight into it nothing,so lined everything up,and stood on that puppy withthe rest of my weight and snapped that stubby extension right in half.So any other ideas? I don't have a way to cut the nut off other then to drill a series of holes through it which isn't a problem as the new axle comes with a new nut,but is this worth the time or should I buy a cut off tool of some sort( don't think an angle grinder will fit into the space the nut fits). Thanks again- John You can get a nut splitter or a cold chissel. nipper
February 13, 200719 yr I don't know about you guys, but I think it's time for a BFH. hehehe thats what goes with the chisel. But yes a hammer, how about a 6' long breaker bar? nipper
February 13, 200719 yr Author Should have just taken it to the shop when it broke for as much as it's gonna cost me to buy everything you two are suggesting,a 6' breaker bar??? Already have a BFH and tried that,gonna try to find a nut breaker in the A.M.,actually should just find my ex girlfriend,she was good at breaking nuts. Small town,can't find any tools now,so enjoying a couple of beers and maybe talk the wife into something before I break my nuts tomorrow.Hahaha Have you guys ever had cv joints just go without any warning,no clicking or anything.Backed out of garage to get kids from school,put it into D and heard the snap,then proceeded to drive 5 miles on icy roads without 4x,changed oil only 200 miles ago and checked boots,no problems and as I said no clackety clack like the Subaru did when they went bad. John
February 13, 200719 yr Author Well,heck I was using a 4' cheater big enough to fit my 2' pipe wrench into the end,so guess that cuts some of the cost.Think I have to go with some kind of cut off or break the nut off some how,seeing as how my tools are snapping at the bit,I broke my stubby extension from Matco using a cheater,surprised my Craftsman ratchet didn't snap first.No my problem is when I put the socket on then hook up the ratchet with cheater the socket won't stay lined up with nut and I worry about rounding the nut off when it slips off.I can't do this without an extension as I have to have the tire on so I won't lift vehicle off stand or even roll it off as the width of the tire requires the extension. John
February 13, 200719 yr Set the breaker bar on a jackstand and then drive the car forward (or backward depending on the side). Worked for me.
February 13, 200719 yr sound like 4TH and long, time to punt. if it were a subaru i'd say, buy a used hub? swap over the parts you can remove, rotor, caliper, etc. but this may not work on a jeep. i don't know how they are put together, but if a new axle is in the works, cut the old one.
February 13, 200719 yr I've found that it's not always the huge breaker bar that does it... i've snapped many a' breaker bar by throwing a 5ft tube on it and reaming the ************ out of something... best luck i've had getting the axle nut off (in the rain, middle of nowhere vt), was taking a 1/2" breaker bar, about 1.5' long, slide a tube over it (another foot maybe. then i had someone press down on the tube, leaving some room about 4" up the main breaker bar... then i wailed directly on the breaker bar with a 3lbs mini sledge, while there was still force being applied to the bar... the nut right off it's called... manual-impact-gun
February 13, 200719 yr Author Update.... Got it off. All of the nut breakers I could find wouldn't have fit into the hub to allow me to break the nut,so I cold chiseled for about a 1/2 hour, then one time as I hit the nut I could see the hub assembly moving,so I gave it a good whack from the back side and the hub fell off and the axle with fried cv stayed put but easily slid out after I got over my amazement. About another 1/2 hour with the chisel and BFH and got the hub separated from the rest of the old axle.I did check around for a jy hub but none of them had one they were willing to part with cheaply. I did try the jack stand idea by resting the new extension on the stand to keep it level and stood on the breaker bar with cheater,I'm 225 pounds and it wouldn't move,so out came the chisel. FWIW- I worked in a Chrysler shop for 2 years and I have never seen a axle nut be so stubborn.I've got a pretty nice Snap on impact and this is the first time it wouldn't do the job. Thanks everyone for the ideas and the help even on a non subie issue. John
February 13, 200719 yr I've found that it's not always the huge breaker bar that does it... i've snapped many a' breaker bar by throwing a 5ft tube on it and reaming the ************ out of something... best luck i've had getting the axle nut off (in the rain, middle of nowhere vt), was taking a 1/2" breaker bar, about 1.5' long, slide a tube over it (another foot maybe. then i had someone press down on the tube, leaving some room about 4" up the main breaker bar... then i wailed directly on the breaker bar with a 3lbs mini sledge, while there was still force being applied to the bar... the nut right off it's called... manual-impact-gun er um ... is there any room for peoples with all the tools you carry nipper
February 13, 200719 yr er um ... is there any room for peoples with all the tools you carry nipper in the new car... yes... in the impreza... well... a few small people doesn't everyone carry around a meduim sized breakerbar... a 32mm socket, and some steal tubing... and a few hammers... standard power tools... full socket/wrenchset... eesh... you people travel light...
February 13, 200719 yr in the new car... yes... in the impreza... well... a few small people doesn't everyone carry around a meduim sized breakerbar... a 32mm socket, and some steal tubing... and a few hammers... standard power tools... full socket/wrenchset... eesh... you people travel light... don't EVER come here and complain about low gas mileage then nipper
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