Stuck Axle and Hub

[rdenyer]

Stuck Axle and Hub
Holiday project to replace front lower control arms on my 2005 D3 TDV6 to fix worn lower ball joint.
I have a question about the axle and hub assembly.
I removed one side with out any problems (RHS) and replaced lower control arm.
But now started on the LHS and the axle just wont budge. :(
Noticed on the RHS - every thing needed to be balance/held in just the right position and the axle slid through the hub reasonably easily.
On the LHS I have even tried tightening every thin back up - but it wont move and does not even sound like it wants to move.

Anyone got any suggestions ?

Regards and Happy New Year

Richard

[Graeme]

Whack it with a length of 4x2 hardwood. Have the nut in place to share the load and to protect the thread and to stop the axle from going too far.

[willem]

Having just done both sides on my 07 D3, I reckon you have to get serious with it. If you haven't got a hydraulic puller - I haven't - you need a decent size drift and a large hammer, and a willing assistant.

For a drift I used a 30 cm long piece of 20 mm round steel bar. I used a five pound sledge hammer. I gave my assistant - my son - a pair of long handled slip joint pliers and a pair of leather welding gloves. He held the drift with the pliers while I whacked it with the hammer.

I left the nut half on the half shaft as a guide so the drift wouldn't drift off, and I was not gentle. Very controlled but I hit it hard. Eight or ten times before it came loose. You have to watch it carefully because when it comes loose it will bounce and not look like it has come loose.

In this whole process you need to have everything still firmly bolted up, except for the half shaft nut - of course! - so that you have something firm to work with. If everything is loose it just bounces.

It's not rocket surgery, just persistence and not being scared to use properly applied force.

Willem