Axle nightmare - How to remove them the easy way

takane2 · Post by **takane2** » 10 Sep 2010, 04:28

I have been fighting to remove my driver's side axle. It won't pop out or pry out. I have tried tapping in a screw driver to break the seal everything. I need to replace the other axle too so I was wondering if I could just remove the other side(hopefully without the same issues) and tap the axle out from the other side. But I know some cars it isn't good to have both axles out, is this the case with a '97 850 with automagic transmission?

Post by **confused_al** » 10 Sep 2010, 06:58

Ozark Lee wrote:The passengers side will slide right out after you remove the cap on the carrier bearing. The driver's side is held by a retainer clip and it can be a bit of a bear. I use a cold chisel as a wedge between the back of the inner CV joint and the face of the transmission. After two or three raps with a hammer it will pop right out. Set the chisel so that it only overlaps 1/4" or so on the side of the rear CV so that you miss the axle and the seal.

I did the dumb way, by using a 18" pray bar just muscled it out.

Post by **jblackburn** » 10 Sep 2010, 07:31

Get a "wonderbar" - one of them small crowbar things, and hammer that in there.

That SHOULD get the clip loose for most - I had to end up hammering a big crowbar in there and then jumping on the stupid thing.

pablotar · Post by **pablotar** » 10 Sep 2010, 11:10

I wedged a panel removing tool in there and put a pipe against it and hit that with another pipe and somehow that worked.
I wish I'd had one of those short crowbars.
Be prepared to catch the fluid that will come spilling out,

Post by **renns** » 10 Sep 2010, 12:15

I prefer a hardwood wedge carefully driven in between the axle tranny. It does the job nicely and spreads the load out a bit, hopefully being less likely to crack the tranny housing as compared to jamming a steel crowbar in there.

VolvoTurbo850 · Post by **VolvoTurbo850** » 10 Sep 2010, 21:13

go to your local store and pick up a large 3 jaw or more gear puller. Place the middle shaft of the axle (it even has a little indentation to receive it) and the jaws on the wheel hub. Loosen your control arms so the hub can pull away from the axles .. then Turn .. and voila!

www.princessauto.com/view-all-products-in-shop?keyword1=pulley+puller

Many people use rubberized gunk to keep the spindle locked into the hub. The puller can evenly remove it regardless what is glueing it in.

Too much whacking on the ends of the axles could cause some issues including damaging the threads to the retaining nut threads.

Happy repairs!

takane2 · Post by **takane2** » 12 Sep 2010, 20:54

I tried using the cold chisel no dice. Thankfully my Dad has offered to pay for a tow and extraction since my birthday is arriving soon. I have read that the axle needs to be in the hub to avoid wheel bearing damage. Is this because the axle is weight bearing, Or can I just separate the outer cv joint on the old axle and put it in? The reason I ask is the inner joint has already become separated from trying to extract it so I would have the axle flopping around while the car is moved around which I would like the avoid by removing the rod portion.

VolvoTurbo850 · Post by **VolvoTurbo850** » 12 Sep 2010, 21:52

if your towing the car then they will lift the front end up anyway and I do not think you will get any severe damage if they are simply rolling it into the garage.

Post by **januwan** » 12 Sep 2010, 22:35

Yesterday I did the driver side for the first time. I used 5/8 chisel I bought at Sears. I used before smaller chisel but it did not work. I was amazed how easy it was, one gentle tap with the sledge hammers and the axles was out. I placed it at 6 o'clock through the fame. May be there is something magic about Sears 5/8 chisel (recommended on Volvo speed forum) may be it has proper slope but I was completely surprise how easy it was. Forget about pry bars, yanking, pulling - chisel works great.
Getting snap ring from the shaft is a different story.

Post by **JDS60R** » 12 Sep 2010, 22:44

Get a 10 or 25 pound weight off of your barbell (weight set) or borrow a neighbors.
Put it on the end of the axle ( should be loose fit) then put the nut back on.

The weight is now trapped by the bolt. Push the weigh in a few inches and pull out hard. The inertia of the weight will pull the axle free.

We have used everything from a tire rim to a brake drum to do this. You just need a few washers and something heavy with a hole in it.

Similar theory used here ( except rear axle and using wheel studs) the weight in motion gives yo all you need.