Hello All,

I've gotten stuck attemping to drive out my driver's side axle from the hub. I easily got the big nut off the axle using my air tools but tried, and failed, to remove the axle using first a hard plastic hammer, then a brass headed hammer (soft head, per the Haynes manual). I have a front axle remover tool but did not crank down real hard on it until I posted a few questions:

1) Do I need to remove the lower (2) control arm bolts before I pound out or press out the axle? Is there enough play in the axle to break it loose and press it into the hub 1/2" or so?

2) How hard to I beat that axle? Should I put the nut on and hit the end of the nut (load goes through threads) or just beat the axle? Can I use a short handled steel sledge? Am I going to damage the axle or trans beating this thing? It seems that once I break it loose with the hammer, then I should finish the job with the puller.

3) If I don't use the hammer, how hard can I crank on the puller? Then again, how do I keep the axle from spinning when I tighten the puller? I can't seem to get full load on the puller 'cause the whole axle spins. Can I safely use my big air wrench?

4) Will heat help?

I live in the upstate of South Carolina and my underbody has virtually no rust anywhere. I can't believe it's rusted in place. If the expoxy is what's holding it in place, then heat might help. If it's a press fit, then heat might not work.

Thanks in advance.

- Rick