[Shotimes] halfshaft removal from the knuckle

Justin Schick jschick@aafp.org
Wed, 30 Jul 2003 09:58:40 -0500


Thanks Ian. We've got the tie rod end, swaybar endlink, lower (control
arm) and upper (strut) pinch bolts undone. The ball joint at the end of
the LCA has been popped out of the knuckle.

The strut was close to coming out the top of the knuckle, but not close
enough. I was hoping removing the halfshaft would give us enough
movement.

Justin

>>> <ianf@eden.rutgers.edu> 07/30/03 09:45AM >>>
30mm socket-may as well buy it for a few bucks

Whenever I have needed to remove a stubborn halfshaft, I "zip" the nut

off with my superhuman strength arms and use a hammer to "tap" the 
halfshaft out of the spindle while pulling the spindle away from the 
car. Obviously you want to make sure the end links, tie rods etc are 
removed at this point. (strut pinch bolt too). Get a new nut from Ford

or at the very least use loctite on it the old one. This is one of 
those torque to stretch or stretch to torque things that will actually

loosen up.

I've never had to remove a halfshaft from a spindle to pop a strut out

so you might want to double check everything that you are doing now 
that its a new fresh day. :)

Ian

> Greetings all,
> 
> I'm helping Rich (remember the Help in KC post?) replace the struts
on
> this 95 ATX. We got the front passenger side done last night, and
the
> driver's side 95% disassembled. We had to quit as we were unable to 
get
> the strut out of the knuckle with the halfshaft still connected. We
> barely got the passenger side out in the same manner; the only reason

we
> could come up with is the driver's side has a shorter shaft between 
the
> joints, thus giving us less range of movement.
> 
> He's going to rent the large socket (36mm?) to take the nut off the 
end
> of the shaft. The Helms also mentions a puller type device that bolts

to
> the wheel studs. I have only seen this tool in use once, while at
Tim
> Dahm's helping to extract my quaifed MTX. I've asked about renting it

at
> parts stores in the past and just get blank deer in headlights
stares.
> Is it really not needed? Will we be able to get the halfshaft out of

the
> knuckle by just removing the nut?
> 
> TIA for any insight,
> 
> 
> Justin Schick
> silver 92 SHO in KC MO
> 194k and counting quickly
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