Driveshaft and rear axle disassembly

[ruswin]

OK, I am in the middle of pulling my transmission, but I cannot get the (4) 12mm 12 point screws out of the drive shaft to rear end yoke loose. What is the secret? I am using a pretty long breaker bar and a 3/8" 12 point 12 mm socket with a universal joint to make clearance to the drive shaft edge, but I am afraid I am near to the breaking point of the socket or universal joint on the socket. And it does not seem that a 1/2" drive socket would fit in the close space between the edge of the driveshaft and the screw head. WFT? I sprayed them with penetrating oil, does not seem to have helped. Is there a better tool or way to break these screws loose? I hate to have to use a impact wrench on the rear end. Project is at a standstill until I can get them loose!

 

[torquemonkey]

Torch... heat them up, carefully. Hit them again with penetrant. Repeat until fasteners are loose.

 

[Psychostang]

Use the impact gun, won't hurt a thing.

 

[BAD97LSC]

i always use the boxed end of a 12 point 12 mil wrench and slip a jack handle over the wrench. they are tight, very tight and they all have thread lock on them making it worse, just yank dude, you wont break anything i have taken apart close to a thousand marks and have yet to snap one of them bolts, i have broken a few sockets in the past though they are in there really good!!

 

[vr4]

impact wrench and a quality universal first choice.

12pt. box wrench second. when i got my 93 shaft from the junkyard i was able to use my gearwrench and double wrench it no problem. came right off.

 

[ruswin]

Jamie, you hit the nail on the head. The 12 point 12mm box end wrench with the jack handle used as a breaker bar worked like a charm! DO IT THAT WAY AND THERE ARE NO BROKEN SOCKETS OR KNUCKLES!!! Disconnecting the shifter cable from the trans allows you to easily use the shifter on the trans itself to place the transmission in park when breaking them loose, and then to neutral to allow the driveshaft to be turned to access all 4 bolts.
MAKE SURE TO MARK THE DRIVE SHAFT POSITION TO RE-BALANCE IT UPON RE-INSTALLATION!
The project has recommenced! Thanks.

 

[unity]

I find it a lot easier to just pop the u-joint. Which also makes it a good time to put a new one in.

Takes just minutes to do then you slide the yoke out and everything is clear. No messing with a drive shaft and having to slide it back, etc.