Front diff drive axle shaft removal - won't budge!

[pjb]

Has anyone had any trouble/success pulling the front diff drive axle out?
Apparently it's supposed to knock out with a slide hammer, but I've tried that, no dice.

The interwebs mentions opening the diff cover and levering it out from that end, but I don't think there's any point trying that on mine since the ARB diff carrier is pretty closed up (no access).

Would like to avoid having to take the whole diff out.

[churchill]

I think the circlip on the end of the shaft might be jammed. That's all I can see holding it in. Have you made sure there's nothing else holding the outer bearing in place?

If the circlip is jammed either smash it harder with the slide hammer or try pulling the diff apart...

[pjb]

I just had a thought.
The outer bearing (opposite end to diff) is a sealed-ball-bearing type, that is pressed on to the shaft, and slides into the housing. Apparently (I've just read), these are prone to failure. So chances are this bearing has seized into the housing. The only thing that locates this bearing is it's position on the shaft, and the circlip that holds the shaft.
So I might try levering and hammering at the same time. With a bit of luck, the bearing will shit itself and leave the outer race behind and let me get the shaft out!

[sibainmud]

Set fire to it
Heat the housing to release the bearing.
Want a hand?

021 742228

Cheers,

[pjb]

Cheers Simon!
You wouldn't be the first person to suggest that, but it's usually related to the three red diamonds on the grille...
I'll give it another crack tonight, see what happens.

[NJV6]

Is this on the passenger side where it goes straight into the diff...?

Mine has always pulled out, sometimes taken a few goes but never needed force...

What did you break...

[pjb]

Nah, it's the axle on the drivers side that goes inside the axle tube, DOJ connect to it. Passenger side came out pretty easily...

Originally I was pulling this all apart so I could change the diff mount bushes (which are knackered). I had a hard-to-reproduce grinding noise in the front end under heavy load, and thought that perhaps holding the diff down properly might go some way to fixing it.

Since then I've concluded the noise is from the sealed bearing that carries the outboard end of the driver-side inner axle shaft. They live outside the safety of the diff...

[NJV6]

Oh that one, I have never pulled my one out. Opening the diff won't work I would have though because there is the free wheel super select piece in there.

[NJV6]

I imagine you'd have to unbolt the freewheel piece. Can sent pic's if you want from when I pulled one apart to see how it worked...

[Tarmac]

If in doubt give it a clout, the bigger the doubt the bigger clout

[pjb]

Bashed harder, came out.

Not pretty either. Full of mud and crap - dust seal is goneburgers, and the outer bearing is pretty flogged out. Time for a clean-up.

[NJV6]

Not pretty either. Full of mud and crap

Shoosh, mine is fine I'm sure..... Should I do it as maintenance given its done 8 years of underwater/mud antics?

[pjb]

I'd wait until the bearing unit on the outboard end of the shaft dies. It's outside the dust seal anyway, so renewing the seal won't extend its life.
I also noticed the receiver cup that sticks out of the freewheel clutch is pretty wobbly, so I suspect the bearing on that is on its way out too.

[MNC]

Bashed harder, came out.

Not pretty either. Full of mud and crap - dust seal is goneburgers, and the outer bearing is pretty flogged out. Time for a clean-up.

Bigger hammer - it is always the answer