Pesky Rear Axle Clips

Tinker · 02-12-05, 08:08 PM

I discovered that the spider shaft securing bolt is broken. Tried drilling the stub with a reverse bit, but getting nowhere fast. So now I can't get the spider shaft out of the diff carrier with it in the axle housing. So I need to pull the axles, but I can't get the circlips off. Not enough hands/not the right tool. Tried so far: screwdrivers & a hammer to push it off; 2 "hook" tools; swearing; talked with a perfesshinl mechanic friend; a real thin end wrench ground to meet both ends of the clip & the hammer again; talked with another perfesshinl mechanic friend (Heep rear-end "expert"); snap ring pliers to pry both ends out at the same time; more swearing.

So how do you get the circlips off? They're recessed into the side gears & don't have holes in the ends for snap ring pliers. And they don't move enough to get something between the axle & the middle of the clip to pull it out.

But I did take a break & pulled my e-brake bell cranks to find out that they're frozen in their housings. They're not even worn. At least I can fix that!

60wag · 02-12-05, 08:47 PM

The spider shaft has to come out to get the spacer block out to push the axles in farther to get the c clips out - so... the pin that secures the spider shaft has to come out. The pin is like a bolt but only has threads close to the head. Did yours break close to the head? Did any of the threads come out with the head? I think the threads only go in about 3/8." I thnik sometimes you can stick weld to the broken piece and then unscrew it (my luck would weld the pin to the housing and it would never come out). There must be some better tricks to get it out. Trt a search on the LCML archives. I know I've read about pin extraction somewhere. I think it was with the ARB pin though. Good luck.

dd113 · 02-12-05, 09:07 PM

Give it a good whack with a hammer. Drive the ctr pin out of the case. No other way to do it.

Pin_Head · 02-12-05, 09:27 PM

1) Tack weld a welding rod to the stub and screw it out.

2) If that won't work. use a 5 pound sledge and a drift bar to drive the shaft out and shear the pin.

Tinker · 02-13-05, 06:43 AM

60Wag -
Got 3/8-1/2" of threads on the pin bolt. Tried extracting the rest with a reverse drill bit - slow going & awkward. Not familiar with the LCML archives - do you have a URL?

Dave -
Already whacked it a lot with a 2-lb hammer & a drift, but didn't want to booger up the end of the shaft so I quit. A friend/guy who owns the shop that did my Vortec/4L60 conversion says he "has the magic tool" & he'll bring it over, but you know how fast friends get to things.

Pin -
Just how do I wind up with a 5-lb sledge with the truck on jack stands?

60wag · 02-13-05, 07:13 AM

THe LCML archives can be found at:
http://www.birfield.com/modules.php?.../landcruisers/

I did a search for: differential pin. It came up with several refs to a similar problem. It sounds like drilling a hole in the pin and using an easy out or a tap to pull it is one technique. The other is to pound the shaft out and shear the pin. This thread discusses damaging the shaft while pounding on it:

http://www.birfield.com/modules.php?.../msg00775.html

Good luck. The good news is that repacing the entire assembly should be easy as the whole thing comes out when an ARB locker is installed so there are a bunch of extra carriers out there. I've got a spare from my ARB install if you're interested. HTHs.

Tinker · 02-13-05, 08:33 AM

Thanks, 60!
Looked at the link & decided to call my friend with the "magic tool" tomorrow. If it's bogus, I think I can rig up some kind of insulating collar for a welding rod so I tack the pin itself. Then I'll try unscrewing it first, in case there are threads left on it. Then I'll use the slide hammer.

Don't really want to shear the pin & risk damaging the carrier.

cruiseroutfit · 02-13-05, 05:29 PM

Used stock carrier's are cheap... and the center/spider shafts are cheap too.

I have had this happen a couple time on stock carriers, both time we ended up destroying the carrier... I'm sure it could be done cleaner, but all we were after was the shaft, or installing lockers.

There was a similar thread on PBB about a broken ARB retainer... he managed to get it out.