Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:33:03 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Loosening Axle (rear)
In-Reply-To: <CAHTkEuL6_8=7HEi1=+R193+g9ohKraCrpnKFrp=DJE+hoYQUQw@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Don, give this a try.
Get a helper. Get some rags. Get some silver duct tape. Get yourself a
torch - propane or acetylene which would be better. Get 4 cans of
computer-dust remover - you know - the compressed air stuff. Make
yourself a tube that is a sloppy fit over the nut but not to big. Put
some tape on the tube so you can hold the tube in place over the nut.
Take your large ball peen hammer and tap-tap-tap - not hammer - but
tap-tap-tap - around and around on the flats on the nut. Do it lots, on
each flat. Then, slip the tube over the nut, fastening the tape. Wrap a
rag around the tube for insulation. Turn the computer-dust remover can
upside down and spray it directly on and around the nut. The gas coming
out will be minus fifty degrees (-50F) - so keep your hands out of the
stream and don't touch that nut. Keep it up, emptying can after can
until you see cold frost all over the nut and axle. Before the last can
have your helper light the torch. The instant you stop emptying the can,
snatch the tube off and put the torch to the nut. Heat like crazy around
and around the outside of the nut, but not to long. There will be for a
very short time a severe temp differential between the nut and the axle,
resulting in the axle steel being shrunken in diameter and the nut
expanded in diameter. This should be enough - if you are quick - to
allow you to reef on the breaker and cheater bar and break the grip of
the nut on the axle.
I haven't done this on the Vanagon, but have done this on other
machinery and airplanes. It works.
Good luck.
John
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com
On 7/19/2011 9:01 AM, Don Hanson wrote:
> I need to change in some new rear wheel bearings on my 84 Van, manual 5sp
> tranny. I know the axle nut is really a pain to get off, having recently
> fought with a bug rear axle nut... I have an idea to attempt to use the
> weight of the van to help me get this one loose. I do not have an impact
> wrench nor a handy mechanic shop. I do have a very stout long 1/2" drive
> breaker bar and the proper socket. My brilliant idea is to lift the van's
> corner, put the socket onto the axle nut with a long extension on a stump or
> something and then letthe van lower away to break the nut loose... I've had
> some PB Blaster on the nut for a few days now. Second question: The
> threads are normal, right? Lefty-loosey? Standard threading?
>
> Think this will work? I plan on standing back as I lower in case the
> tools should break...
>
> Don Hanson
>
>
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