What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Broken cross pin retaining bolt (12 Bolt Axle). Looking for advice.

handloader90

handloader90

Building!
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Posts
2,665
Reaction score
1,053
Location
Colorado
Trying to pull the axle shafts on a 12 bolt.

Axle is sitting in the bed of my truck.

Started backing the cross pin retaining bolt out of the carrier, came out easy enough but it snapped off where the bolt necks down and turns into a smooth pin.

I believe there may be one thread left on the part of the bolt that is stuck in the carrier.

I used an extremely strong magnet to see if it would pull it out and that didn't work, tried to see if I could catch a pick on a possible burr and turn it out that way... didn't work either.

I commenced to smashing the cross pin with a large punch and sledge hammer in hopes that it would break that bolt all to sh*t and then I would be able to take the broken bits out after the cross pin was out.

Truck is located in a gravel parking lot, no electricity around, can't move the axle or the truck. So hand tools only.

Should I just keep banging on this thing? Seems like that bolt would give at some point.

I have a fresh crosspin and retainer bolt to install afterwards so damage to the cross pin is not an issue.
 
had to beat mine ''till it submitted. about a week of evenings under the truck...
 
HERE _______ http://www.fabbriassociates.com/index.html

also did you try a small fine pick ? lots of times you can spin out the broken shaft section . . it seems they pop the last 1.5 threads . . . I have got luck with this most of the time .

someone showed me the link above years ago . I have yet to need one.

only problem I see is if you hit to hard to long bang goes the carrier . 10 and 12 bolts have a weak carrier to begin with .

I had a 10 bolt one time I was scrapping and it was broken . I had a good hardened punch and 4lb mini sludge hammer and I wound up giving up as the case was deforming in the pin area .
 
Buddy tried to drill AND beat the pinion shaft out, didn't work, and he doesn't play around.

I bought a 7.5" or 8.5" (same deal) from the wrecking yard one time, guaranteed good. Pin was broken. Took it back, they had me head over to a shop, the shop used a long drill bit on the pin, done.
 
Pick won't work, I've used a few different ones. There isn't anything for the pick to catch onto.

I'm on a time restraint to get this fixed so the extraction tool won't be much help.

I'm gonna continue to beat on the cross pin and hope nothing bteaks besides the retaining bolt.
 
sweetk30 said:
HERE _______ http://www.fabbriassociates.com/index.html

also did you try a small fine pick ? lots of times you can spin out the broken shaft section . . it seems they pop the last 1.5 threads . . . I have got luck with this most of the time .

someone showed me the link above years ago . I have yet to need one.

only problem I see is if you hit to hard to long bang goes the carrier . 10 and 12 bolts have a weak carrier to begin with .

I had a 10 bolt one time I was scrapping and it was broken . I had a good hardened punch and 4lb mini sludge hammer and I wound up giving up as the case was deforming in the pin area .
Click to expand...

Couldn't beat that pin out after bout 2 hours of trying.

Loaded the axle in the back of my jeep and took it home.

Gonna order that kit this morning and hopefully it will be here before I get out of the field on Tuesday and I can get that thing extracted.

Thanks for linking it.
 
I've had a carrier lose a chunk after using a hammer and steel punch to try driving the cross shaft out...of course,right after it fractured,the remains of the pin came right out..

I put the diff back together with a new lock screw and pretended nothing bad happend..:whistle:...drove it a few more years and had no issues,but my brain was always waiting for that "Bang-screech" noise,when the carrier broke the rest of the way and locked up the rear wheels..never did though!..:blush:..
 
diesel4me said:
I've had a carrier lose a chunk after using a hammer and steel punch to try driving the cross shaft out...of course,right after it fractured,the remains of the pin came right out..

I put the diff back together with a new lock screw and pretended nothing bad happend..:whistle:...drove it a few more years and had no issues,but my brain was always waiting for that "Bang-screech" noise,when the carrier broke the rest of the way and locked up the rear wheels..never did though!..:blush:..
Click to expand...

I cracked a carrier beating on it this way.

I believe what happens sometimes is the pinion shaft rotates a hair and gets a good bite on the pin, thus making it hard to pull straight out.
 
I beat the snot out of the big pin... the carrier looks good though, haven't noticed any hairline cracks or any chunks of anything breaking off.

I'm hoping the kit linked in the thread is as good as it says it is.

Another tool I'll probably only use once lol.
 
handloader90 said:
I beat the snot out of the big pin... the carrier looks good though, haven't noticed any hairline cracks or any chunks of anything breaking off.

I'm hoping the kit linked in the thread is as good as it says it is.

Another tool I'll probably only use once lol.
Click to expand...

Can you get some pliers on the pinion shaft? I'd try rotating it just a tiny bit (plus make sure it's not forced up against the pin from beating on it) and trying with a pick or magnet to see if you can get it to move.
 
dyeager535 said:
Can you get some pliers on the pinion shaft? I'd try rotating it just a tiny bit (plus make sure it's not forced up against the pin from beating on it) and trying with a pick or magnet to see if you can get it to move.
Click to expand...

Possibly there is maybe 1/8" I can maybe grab onto with some vise grips.

I'll give it a try tonight. Definitely couldn't work it out with a pick or magnet yesterday.

I see what your saying about how the pin could have turned a hair and put pressure on the lock bolt/pin.
 
ktmoutfront said:
Is this the truck you are driving to Colorado?
Click to expand...

Sure is lol. Planning on towing a Jeep all the way out there behind it too.

I'm gonna do new axle seals, axle shaft bearings, brake shoes and drums while I've got it all apart. Gonna replace all the springs and stuff in the drum brakes too.
 
handloader90 said:
Tried some grips on the pinion shaft, no go...
Click to expand...

Tapped it in and out a tad to make sure that wasn't impacting how tight it's wedged?

When all is well, there is nothing keeping the pin in place. It's not like a press fit or anything.

Irritating when they are broken however.
 
dyeager535 said:
Tapped it in and out a tad to make sure that wasn't impacting how tight it's wedged?

When all is well, there is nothing keeping the pin in place. It's not like a press fit or anything.

Irritating when they are broken however.
Click to expand...

Yea, I tapped it back the other way. Pinion shaft has zero movement in it.

I believe there is a thread left on the end of the pin portion where it sheared off, I'm pretty sure that's whats keeping it in there.

No worries though. I ordered that extraction kit and I plan on using it when it gets here.
 
I went to the local pull n pay and bought a carrier and spider gears for 60 dollars yesterday. Was able to slap some shims that I had to get the gears correct, used my ring gear. Done.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom