1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Tricks for stubborn driveshaft removal

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 10, 2004 | 08:44 PM
  #1  
Lotus00's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 558
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
Tricks for stubborn driveshaft removal

Me and my friend are trying to take the drive shaft off of his car (84 SE). We got the 4 bolts off the yoke to the diff, but the sucker is stuck on there good. We even tried jacking up the car by the driveshaft, hoping it would come loose, but it didnt. Are there any tricks to get it off without killing ourselves?
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2004 | 09:08 PM
  #2  
RotaryAXer's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Dorr, Michigan
It should just slide out. There are a lot of heat sheilds and stuff in the way. If you have those off and can see where the driveshaft attaches to the transmission then it should just be able to pull it towards the back of the car to get it off. It could possibly be siezed onto the splines of the output shaft of the tranny. Not sure what to do then.
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2004 | 09:14 PM
  #3  
82transam's Avatar
Never Follow
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 8,389
Likes: 120
From: North Jersey
try pb blaster or some other similar rust breaker on the yoke, mine was rusted on there and wouldn't come off till i soaked it. Once thats off it just slides out. You might need to smack it with a hammer a few times too.
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2004 | 09:16 PM
  #4  
web777's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 0
From: LOS ANGELES
Take a hammer and wack the flange. You can also wedge a screwdriver between the flanges, hammer and pry. Mine was tough to get out also.
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2004 | 09:25 PM
  #5  
RotaryRyan's Avatar
DSM
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 1
From: Milton, FL
Originally Posted by web777
Take a hammer and wack the flange. You can also wedge a screwdriver between the flanges, hammer and pry. Mine was tough to get out also.
Exactly what i did. I was at the yard for four hours trying to get one un-stuck. finally the guy came and lifted it with the fork lift, then i just whacked and pryed.
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2004 | 11:01 PM
  #6  
matthewpims's Avatar
Full Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: west milton ohio
I had to hit mine with a sledge hammer for about 10 minutes then it came off and almost killed me being that I was under the car at the time.
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2004 | 11:04 PM
  #7  
Gregs's Avatar
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,980
Likes: 0
From: KING COUNTY, WA
HAHAHA i wouldnt be surprised if you bent the driveshaft by jacking the car up by the driveshaft..... in the long run....
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2004 | 11:06 PM
  #8  
BigJim's Avatar
trainwreck
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,725
Likes: 2
From: Lake, Michigan
Well remember, where the 2 pieces connect isnt just 2 flat surfaces. Theres the Ring that sticks out that slides into the drive shaft. You need to seperate the driveshaft mount from the other moutn, then hit it
Reply
Old Aug 11, 2004 | 01:09 AM
  #9  
Brianhsval's Avatar
I'm old but not slow
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 777
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville,Al
spray with PB Blaster like 82 transam said. Let sit about 15 min. then whack it.
Reply
Old Aug 11, 2004 | 06:03 AM
  #10  
Junia's Avatar
Uchinanchu
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 937
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Bfh
Reply
Old Aug 11, 2004 | 06:10 AM
  #11  
Rx7carl's Avatar
Airflow is my life
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,736
Likes: 2
From: Orlando, Fl
Originally Posted by Junia
Bfh
Reply
Old Aug 11, 2004 | 06:32 AM
  #12  
IanS's Avatar
Ricer
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,424
Likes: 1
From: Washington, Iowa
Just pull the engine/tranny. Thats what I did. Started jacking it up and tink tink tink, it hit the floor.
Reply
Old Aug 11, 2004 | 06:48 AM
  #13  
sweetege's Avatar
bzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Cookeville, TN
Let me help ya out it is GUARANTEED to work and is very easy take an impact hammer, get the screwdriver looking bit, put it up there at one of the cornersof the square driveshaft end connector that connects to the yolk. and BAM hit it and it will come riht off. kindof like taking a 1000ft pound impact Wrench and getting off ANY bolt IT WILL COME OFF! just me and me experience.
Reply
Old Aug 11, 2004 | 07:30 AM
  #14  
Glazedham42's Avatar
Resurrecting Gus
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 6
From: Indiana
Take a hammer and hit the driveshaft towards the transmission after you have the four bolts out. There is a small lip on part of the driveshaft that is just big enough to hit with the hammer. It will probably take five or six good hits. You'll see it slowly pull away from the differential with each hit. After the back of the driveshaft falls and hits you in the head, pull the front out of the tranny and you're done. The lip on the differential is why you can't just slide the driveshaft out. You'll see what everyone is talking about once you have it off. That's what happened to me anyway.
Reply
Old Aug 11, 2004 | 07:57 AM
  #15  
wae's Avatar
wae
Full Member
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: Northern Kentucky
I had the same problem and thought I'd let the car fix the problem for me. To protect the shaft against damage, I used a racheting tie-down strap to form a driveshaft loop just forward of the diff. After pulling the bolts out and shelving them, I put the clutch in, put the car in first, mashed the brake, started the car, and slowly let the clutch out. Right before the car stalled, there was a loud screeching noise, followed by a clunk, followed by a revving engine. I shut everything down and looked under the car to find my driveshaft sitting in it's improvised loop, no longer attached to the diff. All I had to do was jack up the car and pull the driveshaft clear of the tranny.

Be really careful when you do this, though, since you could probably damage something if you forget to keep your foot on the brake or something.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jeff20B
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
73
Sep 16, 2018 07:16 PM
Enzo1944
New Member RX-7 Technical
2
Sep 6, 2015 08:57 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:12 AM.