10 bolt axle help

[The85project]

Hey guys
Tried to replace the seals in my front 10 bolt today. Got the hubs and everything else off the driver side but could not get the shaft out. It was super tight and couldn't get the u-joint through the knuckle. Any ideas. Bent housing?
Thanks for the help

 

[72blazerguy]

No way the housing is bent that much without you noticing. Did you try moving the knuckle around while pulling on the axle shaft?

That axle had to go in that way.

 

[toomany]

I had that problem on both sides of my 10 bolt. Used a pry bar to work it through. Going back in required a light tap with a dead blow. None of the other axles I've taken apart had this problem. But, both sides were the same and going back together with new joints it was still tight...so I didn't worry about it too much.

 

[The85project]

Thanks, that makes me feel better. The K5 just came out of the front end shop with a clean bill of health on the allingment but the left front looks like it has a lean inward the the top of the wheel. Any recommends on replacing the u-joints when I get the shafts out. What's the normal life span? They look pretty good but might as well do them now if needed.

 

[toomany]

Thanks, that makes me feel better. The K5 just came out of the front end shop with a clean bill of health on the allingment but the left front looks like it has a lean inward the the top of the wheel. Any recommends on replacing the u-joints when I get the shafts out. What's the normal life span? They look pretty good but might as well do them now if needed.

If you've got them out, and you don't know the history/how old they are. It's cheap and easy enough to do them.

As far as doing them. If it even looks like they might give me some trouble (being in the rustbelt), I cut the cross out with a torch. As an added bonus the heat makes the caps come out/go in a lot easier. But a hammer and socket will do just as well. Or a ball joint press or even pitman arm puller to push on the caps. If using a hammer try not to hit the ears of the shafts. Maring the ends can make the caps difficult to move through and can even bend them so the cross doesn't fit.

 

[The85project]

Thanks for the help.

 

[paratrooper307]

If you've got them out, and you don't know the history/how old they are. It's cheap and easy enough to do them.

As far as doing them. If it even looks like they might give me some trouble (being in the rustbelt), I cut the cross out with a torch. As an added bonus the heat makes the caps come out/go in a lot easier. But a hammer and socket will do just as well. Or a ball joint press or even pitman arm puller to push on the caps. If using a hammer try not to hit the ears of the shafts. Maring the ends can make the caps difficult to move through and can even bend them so the cross doesn't fit.

This method was the most successful for me. Positioned the shaft in between two old lift blocks and a sharp blow with the hammer popped the caps right out. By far the hardest part was removing the rusted retention clips, but a soaking in PB Blaster and a chisel took care of that.

 

[bigred88]

I used, at various points, a ball joint press, a hammer and socket, and a chisel, but I think the most effective tool I used in getting the axle ujoints out was a wide array of four letter words. They did nothing for actually getting the ujoints out, but they sure made me feel better!

Heat might have helped, I did use a lot of PB Blaster, but they still sucked to get out. Just accept that it probably won't go quickly- knowing that going in should limit the amount of frustration.