Rear Axle Frozen

[JMonadnock]

Can anyone help? I'm trying to replace a bad rear axle on the '87 GL wagon I just bought. I had no problem replacing the driver's side axle, so I'm familiar with the process. But, I can't get the passenger side free. It appears to be rusted to the spindle. I tried setting the spring pin hole (with the pin removed, of course) at the 12 o'clock position with a pencil placed in the bottom so the WD40 I filled the hole with won't drain out. Let it set for 2 days, hoping it would loosen, but still it won't budge. I don't care about the bad axle and have tried whacking it free with an 8 lb hammer...carefully, of course, without damaging other components. No luck. Any ideas? Thanks, in advance.

[john in KY]

Get some of this stuff. May take a week to dissolve the rust but it will given enough time.

 

http://www.kanolabs.com/google/

[ivantruckman]

is it stuck on the diferential stub. yikes , they can be stubborn, you could try a little heat. if you have a torch. good luck. you may need it

[JMonadnock]

No, it's stuck on the spindle...the brake drum side. I had no trouble disconnecting it at the diff.

[GeneralDisorder]

Either you need an O/A torch to heat it with, or knock the spindle out of the trailing arm and work on it on the bench. Dissasemble the joint and pry the grease plug from the bottom of the cup - then you can pound out the spindle with a brass drift.

 

GD

[JMonadnock]

Thanks, General Disorder. Success! I did exactly as you suggested. I removed the drum & brake components and whacked the spindle out toward the diff using a piece of PT lumber and my 8 lb hammer. I then brought the whole assembly to my mechanic friend who heated the joint and then hammered it free using an impact wrench. He even lent me his spindle tool so I can re-install it properly. Wow folks, thanks! I hope I can be of help sometime, too.