January 22, 200422 yr Good item for the junkyard tool bag..... VW Axle Nut tool - 36mm there's a description here... http://www.bugzone.net/bztrns/trns2.html and a close up... they occasionally pop up on eBay as well...
January 22, 200422 yr Looks like it.. but it is specifically designed to be hit with a hammer.. Good thing too.. I recently watched someone break a whole bunch of tools(breakers and such) trying to get an axle nut off..
January 22, 200422 yr Author it can be used with either a 1/2 " breaker, or a hammer. the VW rear axle nuts need to be torqued down to like 280 ft/lbs or something.... also, the Axle installer I have is actually a VW part as well, but I just noticed it. has VW and Made in Germany stamped on the side in very tiny, thin letters.
January 22, 200422 yr I've got one in my box and have used it a couple times when I didn't plan on pulling an axle. A hammer is the most effective method and it doesn't work nearly as well as the big 3/4" breaker bar with cheater pipe. But it does the job in a pinch!
January 22, 200422 yr I never thought of taking my vw axle nut tool with me. They only cost like $10 at the busdepot.com I have broken breaker bars on axle nuts before. Using hammer to the side of the vw tool would work better in those cases.
January 22, 200422 yr I think the idea is that you put the breaker bar in the slot, and apply pressure while hammering on the side of the axle tool. This way there is less bounce. Basically a ghetto impact wrench in a way..... Went over to busdepot.com as sugested and got one - $13.66 (with shipping). Hopefully it will save me from breaking breaker bars all the time. GD
January 22, 200422 yr My breaker bar is made by Craftsman, so I dont really care if it breaks Havent broken one yet, and i put them through hell when im at the yard. That tool would come in handy tho, looks alot lighter than my breaker bar and 36mm socket. -Brian
January 22, 200422 yr That was my thought - I'm tired of carrying such heavy tools. That little guy looks a lot lighter than my huge breaker bar. I'll just use my socket wrench to put pressure on it. Also, it will provide a better angle on the nut - my socket can slip off sometimes. Doesn't seem as likely with one of these. GD
January 22, 200422 yr later VW buses used a 46 mm one. Make sure you get the 36mm one labeled for beetle and real early busses - 5x-63. Busdepot has them cheep. Mark
January 22, 200422 yr Yeah - I noticed that. Nowing nothing about VW busses, I looked at your sig, and clicked on a link that would take me to the 78 model year stuff - and there I saw the 46mm one. Figured that wouldn't work, and that you must be talking about older or newer - so I looked around, and got the 36mm one by clicking on a link to the older bus parts.... Thanks for the link - I probably could get one local for cheaper, but that would mean I would have to drive somewhere, etc. I'm lazy. GD
January 23, 200422 yr your still going to need to carry either a breaker bar or hammer to use it but it looks like it would be good for those stubber ones
January 23, 200422 yr a little heat goes a long way on those 36mm's.....PB Blaster too,but the torch for a few seconds on that nut makes it a lovely experience.
January 23, 200422 yr i've already got the socket in my toolbox, and i always take my breaker bar to the yard.. thanks anyway! I usually leave the toolbox and socket set in the car (covered up) and go scout the yard, make a short list of what i want to get, and then go back to the car and put the tools i need in a tote, then go have fun. or i'll check out a wheelbarrow. not all yards allow for this technique though.. i'll usually take a couple screwdrivers, pliers, wire cutter, and 10-12-14 wrenches and sockets/ratchet if i'm just going to go banzai without scouting first. and handwarmer packets this time of year
January 23, 200422 yr Yes - but you don't need the "big" breaker bar, or the cheater pipe. You could even use a socket wrench to put the pressure on it, and I always carry a hammer. I carry everything but the kitchen sink when I go into the yard. Most yards I go to have wheel barrows, or they have "yard cars" that can transport my big stuff for me. GD
January 23, 200422 yr :D :D I have had one for years in fact I posted about it a couple times on the old board I had it since I owned a bug and have used it on the bug and a few subies and yes make sure to get the one for bugs cause of the late model busses used the bigger axle nut in fact my tool is sorta mushroomed on one side from removing bug axle nuts since they are torqued to about 250 lb/ft
January 23, 200422 yr Hey have you guys ever seen one of these tools in a 32mm size? Now that I'm running a Legacy I wouldn't mind having both sizes in my tool box. Thanks.
January 23, 200422 yr yep for you just goto bowsers and ask for the tool for bug EMPI is the brand name for it so hold on and I might find the PN for it through bugpack
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