Axle parts cleaning

[Scott68FJ40]

I just got the front axle that will be going under my 40 up on the bench to rebuild. Parts will be ordered Monday morning but I would like to have stuff cleaned as I pull it apart.

Anyone have any suggestions as to where to take them in the Chandler area?

I guess the other option would be to buy a harbor freight parts cleaning tank, but not sure if it would really be worthwhile.

 

[Tools R Us]

Coin-op car wash?

 

[-Spike-]

Home Depot sells Zep Purple degreaser. It's nasty stuff, will eat rubber for breakfast and does interesting things to aluminum and other non-ferrous metals, and grease too. I slather it on liberally, let it soak in and hit it with a stream of water. Done many axles that way.

 

[Scott68FJ40]

Since the complete axle is around 300 pounds, I doubt that I will be taking it to the car wash.

I might do that with the housing once I have it torn down, but that still leaves finding a way to clean all the parts as I remove them.

 

[Scott68FJ40]

How would you clean the little parts such as the knuckles themselves with the degreaser? Seems like I would still need some sort of tank to do it in.

 

[-Spike-]

Well, I use a plastic bin, one meant for under-the-bed storage. Of course the restaurant sink in the shop helps with rinsing, but a hose and gutter work almost as well.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Oven cleaner - Removes 30 year old baked on grease, basically anything and everything

 

[Jason4x4]

Amazon.com: B-9 COLD PARTS CLEANER -- 5 GALLON: Everything Else@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21Z3BH9HVYL.@@AMEPARAM@@21Z3BH9HVYL

this works very good, and you can buy baskets for them, some local places should have it, I think even the autozone at arizona ave and ray.

 

[inkpot]

How would you clean the little parts such as the knuckles themselves with the degreaser? Seems like I would still need some sort of tank to do it in.

I have these nice heavy duty 6 gallon plastic jugs at work. Just cut the top, or side off, and it is a great wash basin. I have a preference for diesel fuel, but that's just me. John P.S. I have lots of extra ones...

 

[skafifer]

i attacked mine with a gallon of gas and a wire wheel...good as new

 

[Scott68FJ40]

I have these nice heavy duty 6 gallon plastic jugs at work. Just cut the top, or side off, and it is a great wash basin. I have a preference for diesel fuel, but that's just me. John P.S. I have lots of extra ones...

I'll take a couple of them off your hands if you don't mind.

 

[inkpot]

I'll take a couple of them off your hands if you don't mind.

I'll grab some extras tonight.

 

[mikeob1]

A bunch of wire wheels on electric drill. Goggles and ear plugs. Maybe some wire brushes. I like to use a mechanical process first with chemicals later. As far as the chemicals go...mineral spirits is my choice. If you're working in your garage, be careful you don't get high as a kite rubbing your axle for too long.

Scrapers work well too to get the heavy stuff.

Although, my first choice is a sand blaster! It removes the goop and paint all in one shot. The 69 frame was sent out with axles on and loose. It made it easier to transport and the blaster removed the springs/axles to do the bottom of frame and shot the axles too.

 

[Scott68FJ40]

I am still thinking I want to find somewhere to get stuff hot tanked from time to time. Had a couple places in Tucson that did stuff for me, but haven't found anything now that we are living in Chandler.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I am still thinking I want to find somewhere to get stuff hot tanked from time to time. Had a couple places in Tucson that did stuff for me, but haven't found anything now that we are living in Chandler.

Most machine should have something maybe not a hot tank but something.

 

[gotmud]

I get everything soda blasted. Comes back clean. Shoot it with some industrial black paint and you're done - ready to assemble.

 

[67azcruizr]

if you have a machine shop that you use, just bring them the broken down assembly.

box of latex gloves with a roll or two of paper/shop towels, break everything down and put it into a plastic mortar/grout tray and bring it to your machine shop. have them tank it, make the job a whole lot more enjoyable

my shop doesn't charge me, but if your a newbie it might run you $20-30 bucks but in my mind well worth it.


27.5 in. x 19.5 in. Medium Black Mixing Tub - 887101A at The Home Depot


if your leaving the axle assembly on the truck than before you tear into it take it to the carwash like suggested earlier. bottle of that purple stuff and a wire brush should take care of ALL the external stuff, then you could decide whether or not you need the machine shop

 

[Scott68FJ40]

I had a couple places in Tucson that I used to do just that, but haven't looked around for anything after moving to Chandler.

The axle is not under the rig, I am rebuilding a disk axle from a '78 to put under my '68.

 

[coolotisdog]

Now that I've done a couple axles, I wish I would have bought one of these:

Black Bull 20-gallon Auto Parts Washer | Overstock.com

 

[inkpot]

Now that I've done a couple axles, I wish I would have bought one of these:

Black Bull 20-gallon Auto Parts Washer | Overstock.com

I have that same size from Harbor Frieght. Probably the very same unit, just painted red. It has held up great considering it is outdoors. I use diesel fuel for solvent because I use it for other things too. John