So I am trying to remove my axels from my s4 turbo II since they need new boots. I have taken off the axel nut and washer and it doesn't slide out at ALL, I tried to hit the axel with a hammer and a center punch so i dont mess up the thread and it feesl SOLID! Has anyone went through this before? Is it just seized in there and i need to heat it up maybe?

I checked the FSM and I cant find anything that can be hold them on there both are solid and wont come out.

 

gonna have to beat it harder!

 

Air hammer with a pointed bit if you have one available.

 

Wrap the splines and threads with a cloth and beat that ****** with a large rubber mallet. If that doesn't work... Double up the cloth and hit it with a sledgehammer.

 

WD40 and block of wood to absorb the blows so you dont damage anything

 

I have used an air hammer and a sledge hammer haha so its not just me that **** is just really on there.

 

It's actually kinda easy. The issue is build up of corrosion and rust essentially welding the spline theads together. So what you need to do is use leverage to break that corrosion.

Take a good strong impact gun and first over-tighten the bolt a bit to break that corrosive bond. Then reverse the impact gun and remove the bolt. A few raps of a hand sledge and it should pop right off.

Worked for me, hope it works for you.

 

^ thanks Iwill try that out tomorrow.

 

Put the nut back on the end of the axle to protect the threads/shaft. If there is a new nut avaliable, but it on backwards so as the nut face is at the end of the shaft. I've seen shafts mushroom from the heavy blows and also threads destroyed.

 

I removed some axles today actually...rested an aluminum hammer on the axle tip and hit it twice with a regular hammer. They came right out.

 

hmm I dont know whats up with these, I took the whole knuckle off with the axel lol so I am going to try to press them out.

 

For stubborn axles, i leave the nut on the axle with 4-5 threads engaged, put the socket on it and proceed to beat the **** out of it with a mini sledge. This generally doesn't **** up the axle or nut. Some do get ridiculous though.

 

Since you took the knuckle off with them you can see if you can get a 3-jaw puller on it. I've had to do that with some rusty FWD cars before. Hit it with the 1/2" impact and they came right off.

 

4lb mini sledge, put the nut on so its flush w the end of the shaft and hit it like you'd hit it like, well idk, some really hot chick.

 

So I take it my method was a fail for you?

 

I havnt tried anything yet, I been busy with working on other cars, Ill get back to it once I come back from a business trip and let you guys know what i did.

 

Quit hitting it with your purse.

 

A combination of this...

And this...






And lol at this...

 

I would recomend heat.. and a lot of it.

My 87 TII axles took 4 hours to get out of the housing.. We torched the **** out of them.. But we also used propane.. if you can get you hands on a real torch use that. Also, buy new nuts ahead of time from the dealer... they are like 10 bucks per nut i want to say. Either way, this isnt a fun process.. a hand hammer and punch probably are not going to work for you either way.

Good Luck.