HELP! Axle pin removal tool stuck!

[BlindSight]

Sooooooooooo started pulling the axle out and the pin came out and then I tried to get the tool out...............its stuck. I have the special tool (long rod with the magnetic tip on the end and everything not just a regular punch or anything) and cant get it back out. Have tried twisting on it with a pair of channel locks and vise grips and it will only turn a little bit each way. Tried prying on the little lip where the size steps down and nothing. also tried tapping on the other end which is sticking out just a little bit but its just messing up. Also tried using pb blaster and liquid wrench, and heating with a torch with all of the above and nothing. Suggestions?

[tractor pole]

see if you can drive the pin back in the way it came out to dislodge the tool. pins are cheaper to replace.

[idosubaru]

if it's that stuck you need to push it back out the way it went in - continue trying to drive it back through the other way. it'll eventually come out, it's amazing how stuck they seem even when you didn't tap them that hard to begin with.

 

i'm not familiar with historic subarus but since the late 80's on Automatics (you don't say if yours is an auto or manual) you can pull on the front axles and the stub will pop out of the transmission - it's only held in place by a small circlip.

 

so - if yours is an automatic and the historic models have that same stubby shaft set up, you can simply pull it out to work on it out of the vehicle.

[SUBARU3]

Turn the axle around and try from the other side. Rememember when re-installing, they only fit one way. If the pin is not going in, you have to turn the axle 180 degrees.

Edited May 4, 2012 by SUBARU3

[BlindSight]

I think the axle might have been turned around the wrong way, the pin on this one was unusually hard to get out. Tried spinning it atound and hammering on the tool with a screwdriver and a punch from the other side to force it back out but it just messed the tip up. Will try using a roll pin to tap it back out tomorrow.

[BlindSight]

went ahead and bought a set up punches they had at Harbor Freight, managed to hammer it back out! Although after I rebuilt the axle and put it back in the tip of the tool broke off inside the roll pin :/, oh well, will just grind down another section to fit inside to hold the next one. Now I just need to figure out how to get the castle nut back on the lower ball joint without the joint just spinning. (just had to jack up the lower control arm a little bit and it went right on , although I forgot to put the outer bearing back in when I put the axle in so now I have to take it all back apart...but it should go much faster this time.)

Edited May 4, 2012 by BlindSight

[Rust]

I made my own roll pin punch by finding an old screwdriver with the same shaft diameter as the roll pin. Then cut the head end off. I always run the screwdriver through the hole first to make sure its lined up, and then tap in the roll pin. If the roll pin is not going in with light taps, then something isn't lined up right.

[BlindSight]

Thanks for the tip! Got the new one in no issues, the tip was just weak from me trying to beat the tool back out after removing the old one so when the roll pin clamped down around it there was enough force to snap it off.