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front right spindle removal

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by sitkamatt, Jun 21, 2005.

  1. Jun 21, 2005
    sitkamatt

    sitkamatt soggy bottom boy

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2005
    Messages:
    6
    '74 cj5.

    i recently had the front right axle seal go bad on me and thought i'd replace it. i've gotten as far down as the spindle but the damn thing doesn't want to come off. i've removed the 6 bolts and the backing plate and i can't see anything more holding it on. should just come off the steering knuckle no problem, right?

    would it be a bad idea to put the big flange nut back on and try a puller on it, pressing on the axle?

    the haynes manual is useless here. all it says is "remove spindle". aaarrgh!
     
    sitkamatt, Jun 21, 2005
    #1
  2. Jun 21, 2005
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2003
    Messages:
    8,525
    it should
    try re-installing the nuts together and tapping gently but firmly on them
    the spindle has a round protrusion of sorts that fits into the spindle
    keeps the spindle centered in the knuckle
    probably rusted together
     
    jpflat2a, Jun 21, 2005
    #2
  3. Jun 22, 2005
    sitkamatt

    sitkamatt soggy bottom boy

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2005
    Messages:
    6
    alright. i'll give it another go tomorrow if it isn't raining.
     
    sitkamatt, Jun 22, 2005
    #3
  4. Jun 22, 2005
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2003
    Messages:
    8,525
    alternating sides with hammer would be best
     
    jpflat2a, Jun 22, 2005
    #4
  5. Jun 22, 2005
    cj5man

    cj5man New Member

    New York
    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2005
    Messages:
    17
    Mine have always come off really hard. In the past I have taken a putty knife and hammered it inbetween the knuckle and the spindle all the way around to free it up a little. Sprayed it with penetrant, and pryed the heck out of it until it came off.
     
    cj5man, Jun 22, 2005
    #5
  6. Jun 22, 2005
    lynn

    lynn Time machine / Early CJ5 HR Rep Staff Member

    Huntingdon PA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    3,437
    A few years ago I rebuilt a '74 D30 that had never been apart. I beat on that spindle, with some sacrificial nuts on it. It took about an hour of precise but hard hits with hammers ranging from 16 oz to 3 lb... :rofl:
    I mananged to eventually remove the spindle. Cleaned it up, reinstalled it using liberal amounts of antisieze. The spindle was undamaged by the impacts, but I did need to buy new nuts... :D
     
    lynn, Jun 22, 2005
    #6
  7. Jun 22, 2005
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    8,360
    Yup, I use a soft faced dead blow hammer to remove those... Top, bottom, left, right, until it comes loose...
     
    Patrick, Jun 22, 2005
    #7
  8. Jun 22, 2005
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,586
    Yup get a rubber dead blow hammer and go at it. took me about 20 minutes beating the tar out of it. the brand new hammer looks like it is 40 years old now :(
     
    DanStew, Jun 22, 2005
    #8
  9. Jun 25, 2005
    sitkamatt

    sitkamatt soggy bottom boy

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2005
    Messages:
    6
    well i managed to get it off with a minimal amount of cussage. soaked it in penetrating lube and put the nuts back on, the beat the crap out of it for 10 or 15 minutes. now i have another whole set of problems.

    spindle bearing is kaput, missing rollers, frozen in the spindle.
    U-joint on the axle is frozen on one axis and floppy on the other.
    axle oil seal is stuck inside the axle tube down near the differential.

    i gotta figure out how to post pics.
     
    sitkamatt, Jun 25, 2005
    #9
  10. Jun 25, 2005
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
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    Not huge problems, rather typical....... ;)
     
    Patrick, Jun 25, 2005
    #10
  11. Jun 25, 2005
    sitkamatt

    sitkamatt soggy bottom boy

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2005
    Messages:
    6
    ok, so lets start with the stuck oil seal down in the axle tube. any ideas?
     
    sitkamatt, Jun 25, 2005
    #11
  12. Jun 25, 2005
    Hansh

    Hansh Going Mobile

    SE Wisconsin
    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2004
    Messages:
    425
    I can't help with the seal, but for future reference on the spindle. Soaking with penetrating oil and some hitting around the spindle near the joint to the knuckle with an air chisel has worked well for me. That is if you have air tools.
     
    Hansh, Jun 25, 2005
    #12
  13. Jun 25, 2005
    sitkamatt

    sitkamatt soggy bottom boy

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2005
    Messages:
    6
    no, no air tools yet. i just move across the country so i had to select what went with me carefully.

    anyway, i finally got the seal out with a hook my friend forged for me. mulitated the hell out of it but its out. now for the u-joint and bearings...
     
    sitkamatt, Jun 25, 2005
    #13
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