Driveshaft removal help/ideas?

backfocus · Nov 2, 2008

Alright guys I am trying to remove the drive shaft so I can remove the transmission. The 4 bolts that hold the flange are really stuck, my heavy duty 1/2" impact wont even budge it. I have tried soaking them in PB blaster and WD40. Also tried heating them up, along with a big pry bar and the impact gun. There is some movement in the shaft coming from the trans so it does move a bit when I try to use the impact gun, and a screwdriver through one of the holes in the flange didn't help that.

Anyone have any other ideas on how to best remove it?

HISSIN50 · Nov 2, 2008

Do you have it in gear and with the ebrake applied?

Heat is what releases threadlock so that should have helped.

You might have luck using a 4# hammer to hit a wrench (be real careful of your hands, not only in regards to hitting them but the impact isnt good for your nerves and tissue).

Good luck.

Aliate X · Nov 2, 2008

put a wrench on the bolts, lower the car down with the wrench still on it, lay on your side and kick the crap out of it, dont be worried about breaking them, they are pretty thick

stykthyn · Nov 2, 2008

I find that putting a jack under the wrench and then jacking it up is pretty effective

BTW be sure to use a 12pt socket so as not to round the heads off.

SVT32VDOHC · Nov 2, 2008

Usually when I heat them with a torch they come right out. I didn't heat them too much because I didn't want to melt the pinion seal. Make sure you put lock-tite back on the bolts when you install them. I have had them loosen up without using loc-tite both with tightening with a pry bar and 1/2" impact.

Foxfan88 · Nov 2, 2008

could try a 3/4 drive impact. be sure to get the bigger air line, with the bigger guns you need volume over pressure. i bet a 3/4 will get it.

90topdown · Nov 2, 2008

Heat usually does the trick. I heated each bolt until it was cherry red. Then I used a 12pt box wrench combined with another box wrench to get extra leverage. Once it broke loose, it came out fairly easy.

How much heat did you put on it??

backfocus · Nov 2, 2008

I heated up the bolts until they were red hot. It was actually starting to melt the pinion seal, which I am not to worried about, since I am replacing it before it is all done. I also forgot to mention that the back wheels were up on ramps and I have the front up on jack stands.

I will continue trying to heat them up. I have never had a bolt that wouldn't come loose with my impact gun.

Other ideas, welcome. An yes I am using a 12point 12mm socket, if anyone was wondering.

Mustang5L5 · Nov 2, 2008

I just did mine with this combo.

Heat, then put a 12mm wrench on the bolt and then whacked the wrench with a hammer in quick short hard blows. That usually broke them loost within 5-10 whacks

Foxfan88 · Nov 2, 2008

if worse comes to worse, you can grab a cutting torch and blow the heads off the bolt and get the DS out, but that will leave it more of a PITA probably to the rest of the bolt out of the flange.

normally the bolts sometimes are a PITA but shouldnt be as bad to where a little heat and elbow grease wouldnt get them out.

Calgary351GT · Nov 2, 2008

I know a guy that used a good (Snap-On) 12pt box end wrench positioned so when he lowered the car he could crack the bolts by pushing it.
Sounds retarded but he said it works.

P-Zero · Nov 2, 2008

ffs.......Heat the pinion flange where the bolts go in to NOT the bolt itself. Point the torch AWAY from the pinion and the seal should be ok. Then get yourself a 12mm 12pt. combo wrench, a large screwdriver and another 14 or 15 mm combo wrench. After youve heated teh flange stick the screwdriver in the between one of the crosses in the ujoint rotate until it contacts the ground put your larger wrench in to smaller wrenchs openend side and pull. It should come off relatively easily. If it doesnt its not hot enough.
-P.

backfocus · Nov 7, 2008

Heat, Heat and More Heat! I finally got those stupid bolts loose!

After the Propane torch, then the Map gas, a 1/2" and 3/4" impact gun that didn't even budge the bolts. I was talking to one of my neighbors and he suggested an acetylene torch turned down. Basically he came over with his torch fired it up and turned it down where it wouldn't cut the metal, but would super heat it. It still took a bit, but they finally came loose.

So I guess the MAP gas just wouldn"t heat it enough. Heck we still had to heat it so much that it looked like the bolts were going to melt.

Thanks for all those who had suggestions and the wrench was easier to get more leverage, even though I had to go buy one since I didn't have a 12point.

Now I need to buy some new bolts.

Thanks again to all!

Driveshaft removal help/ideas?

backfocus

Member

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

Aliate X

Member

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

SVT32VDOHC

waiting for the next hack atta

Foxfan88

My Grandpa has great wood.

90topdown

Member

backfocus

Member

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Foxfan88

My Grandpa has great wood.

Calgary351GT

Member

P-Zero

New Member

backfocus

Member

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Driveshaft removal help/ideas?

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"How long does it take to get help in here?

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I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

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My Grandpa has great wood.

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That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

My Grandpa has great wood.

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