Removing Axle from Hub

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

I'm running out of ideas. Anyone ran into this before? I've had axles that were a bit stuck before, but nothing like this. The ring in the photo is cut from 1/4" thick steel. I don't know how much pressure is on the axle at this point...but I can tell you it's a scary amount. With all of that pressure on it, I've even hit the hub with a propane torch for 10 minutes and it won't budge. I already know I need to buy new hubs and bearings. I'd sure like to salvage the CV/axle if possible. Any other tips or tricks to try that won't damage the upright/knuckle?

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[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

And yes.....I propped them up vertically for a week and had a pool of penetrating lube sitting inside the hub to try let it soak down into the splines. I also had a fine-threaded large 3 jaw puller torqued down as tight as I could get it.....nothing I do has made them budge one bit. Both axles are like this.

[Ajzride]

Maybe use some compressed air in a can held upside down to try and chill the spline while you heat the hub?

[cv2065]

Maybe this will help? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIs-gHdoQJU

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

Maybe use some compressed air in a can held upside down to try and chill the spline while you heat the hub?

That was actually my next step I was going to try. I think I have a can of that stuff around here somewhere? Thanks!!

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

Maybe this will help? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIs-gHdoQJU

These bearings actually press into the knuckle from the back side and are held in with a snap ring if I'm not mistaken......and I can't get to that snap ring until I get the axle splines to release from the hub splines and get the axle removed. The bearings are cheap, the hubs are cheap, the axles aren't crazy expensive, but the knuckles are not cheap.....so I'm trying to keep 100% of the force between the hub and axle splines....which puts zero pressure on the knuckle. I just haven't figured out a safe way to apply enough pressure to get things to move.

[crash]

Obviously the splines are stuck in the hub. They are usually a pretty precise fit and so rust can become an issue. I always lube the splines before reassembly. That said, I don't think constant pressure is what is needed here. Maybe try a little sustained force with the press and then impact the CV area sideways to try and get the spline to move ever so slightly? I am pretty sure the answer to this problem lies in impact force as opposed to constant force from a press.

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

Yeah, I tried that last night......banging on the hub with a 2lb maul while it was in the press....after I spent 10 minutes of constant heat on the hub with 2 separate propane torches. Put more pressure on the press....bang some more. When I had the 3 jaw puller on it and torqued down as far as my impact would go, I hammered away directly on the end of the puller with that same 2lb maul and nothing moved. I have not tried hitting the CV yet, but I guess that's probably coming. Last resort, I'll probably have to sacrifice the CV and maybe just drill the center of the CV shaft out of the hub....although it's over 3/4" diameter and the biggest drill bit I have here is 5/8". What a massive PITA this has turned into! I appreciate all of the suggestions!

[BornWestUSA]

What make / model / year is that assembly off of?

[PMD24]

Propane won't do it, acetylene won't either. If you have an oxy acetylene outfit, that's the key to using heat to break a joint. LOTs of heat quickly. Otherwise you're just heating both parts and nothing changes.

Pat

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

What make / model / year is that assembly off of?

2002 Miata

[idf]

Have you tried the "Pipe Trick"? see below. Worked for me with WRX axles.

"Glad to know you got it out. If anybody else comes across stubborn axles, search for "CV joint pipe trick" on youtube. The idea is to get a pipe just a wee bit bigger than the axle in diameter and somewhat longer (how much longer is probably not important). Stick the axle into the pipe and slam the joint down on the end of the pipe. The pipe will square up that spider cage and inertia will yank the axle and retaining clip right out. I had an SOB of an axle, wasted about an hour smashing it with a hammer. Didn't have a pipe, but I used one of the wheel bearing races propped up on my steel press plates and did basically the same thing. Half dozen or so hits and it was out, mangled clip and all. The other axle flew out first time with hardly any force. See a picture of the press and the race in my build thread, post 56. Just stuck the axle end through that. You can see the tarp I used to cushion the falling axles."

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

Have you tried the "Pipe Trick"? see below. Worked for me with WRX axles.

"Glad to know you got it out. If anybody else comes across stubborn axles, search for "CV joint pipe trick" on youtube. The idea is to get a pipe just a wee bit bigger than the axle in diameter and somewhat longer (how much longer is probably not important). Stick the axle into the pipe and slam the joint down on the end of the pipe. The pipe will square up that spider cage and inertia will yank the axle and retaining clip right out. I had an SOB of an axle, wasted about an hour smashing it with a hammer. Didn't have a pipe, but I used one of the wheel bearing races propped up on my steel press plates and did basically the same thing. Half dozen or so hits and it was out, mangled clip and all. The other axle flew out first time with hardly any force. See a picture of the press and the race in my build thread, post 56. Just stuck the axle end through that. You can see the tarp I used to cushion the falling axles."

That sounds like a trick to get the axle shaft out of the CV. My CV splines are stuck inside the wheel hub.

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

Well, one down and one to go! I used a combo of the suggestions from Ajzride and Crash. I used both propane torches on the hub for about 10 minutes again to heat everything up (I don't have a oxy-acetylene torch).....then quickly hit just the end of the axle stub with the liquid from "air in a can" and started smacking the side of the CV joint with my 2lb maul. About 10 whacks and the whole thing popped and came most of the way apart (all of the tension of the bent 1/4" plates acting like a spring).....but it still didn't come all the way out and still needed to use the 3 jaw puller to force it the rest of the way out.

Major word of caution. I would say that "air in a can" and high heat don't mix well. The second the parts popped apart, I got a terrible taste in the back of my throat that made me run outside and start hacking and spitting and trying to get the taste out. I opened up the overhead doors to the shop to air things out. I'm guessing I'm going to have to repeat this process for the other axle, so I will be moving the press outside and try to stay upwind.

[crash]

Most "air in a can" is simply CO2. Might want to check the label of whatever you are using. CO2, as I believe you know, is not harmful to breath. Yes it tastes "odd" and you get the feeling of suffocation, but as long as you take in small amounts(like in a soda) or only one or two breathes of straight CO2, it shouldn't hurt you in the least.

Could be the smell was from something else? Sounds like the splines could have had some sort of locking fluid put on them? That would make sense as to why, after cooling a bit, you had to use more force again. And, if locking fluid was used, you probably would have never gotten this apart without heat.

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

My air-in-a-can looks like it has refrigerant in it....which means I probably made myself some phosgene gas?.....although I was under the impression that this required an open flame? The parts were hot, but not even red hot or glowing at all....and the torches were both turned off for probably 10 seconds by the time I began using the can of air. I didn't notice any odor or taste at all until the big POP when everything let loose.....so yeah....maybe it was something that was applied to the axle splines.....or maybe all of the "PB Blaster" penetrating oil that did seep into the splines?

[Shoeless]

Glad you got this far to see some movement, but yea that would freak me out to do that and then not be able to breath. Yikes.