How to remove axle nuts!

Topics that apply to all 92-95 civics
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How to remove axle nuts!

By TrailerTrash
- Tue May 31, 2011 9:53 pm #257542 I had my axles out for a tranny swap about 15 months ago but now they refuse to break loose. i soaked them in PB Blaster then I tried an impact gun(didn't work) 1/2 inch drive ratchets(broke 2) breaker bars(broke 2) and I also broke a 1/2 inch drive extension.

I am at a loss I absolutely cannot get these things to budge!

in case your wondering i did pry the part away where to bend it in to lock it on there
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By teal_dx
- Tue May 31, 2011 10:38 pm #257550 I was going to suggest the things you've already tried...

one more trick is to heat the nut up with a torch real quick. Not glowing red or anything but get it hot because metal expands when hot and that can sometimes help stubborn bolts come loose.
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By ImThaBean
- Wed Jun 01, 2011 12:01 am #257565 On the impact part. Are you using a quality impact and a lot of air. as in a compressor with big tank, high psi, and good pump?

Cause when I had to break mine loose, I tried using my craftsman impact and craftsman air compressor. I sat on the axle nut for a half hour and it didn't budge. the impact was taking more air than the compressor can make so it never got anywhere. I drive to work and use our ingersall impact and we have a a few rotary screw comps and the lines sit at 130psi. One blast of the trigger and the nut was off.

TL;DR: quality tools make the difference.

Also, like Teal said. slap some heat on it.
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By TrailerTrash
- Wed Jun 01, 2011 3:22 am #257614 I only have an electric impact gun. Probably the reason it didnt work :?

I thought about heating it up with a torch but im worried about cooking my wheel bearings and thats not something I wanna deal with I just went through that with my subaru :x
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By ghskid06
- Wed Jun 01, 2011 3:36 am #257618 You can just pull the whole thing off if it comes to it.
What worked for me last time after going through many wrenches was a 3/4 breaker bar with a Jack handle over it. This was after unsuccessful impact wrench attempts as well.
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By TrailerTrash
- Wed Jun 01, 2011 3:44 am #257619 I am seriously considering upgrading to 3/4 inch drive.

I do have a whole other cpmplete spindle/knuckle/whatever you wanna call it set and a few sets of axles. might end up going down that road
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By dbrooks
- Wed Jun 01, 2011 4:06 am #257620 that just sounds like a mess :thumbdown:
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By ImThaBean
- Wed Jun 01, 2011 6:00 am #257631 Totally just remembered. I broke many a breaker bar trying to break the axle nuts off my '87. The way we finally got the nuts loose: Get a jack stand under the axle nut to rest the socket/extension (3") on and then getting a cheater bar (long, like 3-4 feet) and stand on it. Do a manual impact (light jerking) to try and crack the nut loose. That did it.

*Just to make sure we are all on the same page, you did bend back the nut from the pinch area right?

***Make sure you put some anti-seize on the threads at re-install. Make the next time THAT much easier. :thumb:
Last edited by ImThaBean on Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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By ghskid06
- Wed Jun 01, 2011 4:13 pm #257675
dbrooks wrote:that just sounds like a mess :thumbdown:
'


actually to get the axle out its easiest if you already have it half off anyway.


still you can get 3/4 breaker bars for fairly cheap. Id try that first, unless youve been meaning to swap in your spares anyway.
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By That One Dude
- Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:22 pm #257741 I've never had luck when removing axles while they're just hanging down already out of the transmission. Usually wound up with another run to the parts store to get another axle in my case.

I normally give the axle nut some pretty ballsy whacks with a hammer and punch while spraying it with PB. Helps break loose any corrosion between the axle shaft, axle nut, and the hub.

Heating the axle nut won't cook the bearing if you don't heat it too much. Remember, the hub sees a lot of heat anyways between the brakes and the bearing itself.
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By TrailerTrash
- Thu Jun 02, 2011 4:04 am #257792
ImThaBean wrote:Totally just remembered. I broke many a breaker bar trying to break the axle nuts off my '87. The way we finally got the nuts loose: Get a jack stand under the axle nut to rest the socket/extension (3") on and then getting a cheater bar (long, like 3-4 feet) and stand on it. Do a manual impact (light jerking) to try and crack the nut loose. That did it.



trust me I had a cheater bar on it. thats why ive gone through so many tools(God bless Craftsman)

ImThaBean wrote:
*Just to make sure we are all on the same page, you did bend back the nut from the pinch area right?



yes sir I did

ImThaBean wrote:***Make sure you put some anti-seize on the threads at re-install. Make the next time THAT much easier. :thumb:


I most definitely will

ghskid06 wrote:
dbrooks wrote:that just sounds like a mess :thumbdown:
'


actually to get the axle out its easiest if you already have it half off anyway.


still you can get 3/4 breaker bars for fairly cheap. Id try that first, unless youve been meaning to swap in your spares anyway.


I found a breaker bar for $25 and a socket for $22. not too bad I guess for something Ill probably never use again :?

That One Dude wrote:I normally give the axle nut some pretty ballsy whacks with a hammer and punch while spraying it with PB. Helps break loose any corrosion between the axle shaft, axle nut, and the hub.


Oh trust me I was gettin ballsy with the hammer :D


That One Dude wrote:Heating the axle nut won't cook the bearing if you don't heat it too much. Remember, the hub sees a lot of heat anyways between the brakes and the bearing itself.


I guess Ill try a little heat then and see if I can break some more tools before I go and buy a 3/4 bar and socket
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By Eg6H2D
- Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:29 pm #257998 Ive used a 1/2" 18' breaker bar for many civic and integra and always works like a charm.. using a pipe over the breaker bar of course for leverage!!! Hasn't failed me yet.

:thumb:
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By TrailerTrash
- Sat Jun 11, 2011 9:45 pm #259094 It took a 1 inch drive ratchet with a 4 foot cheater pipe but they finally came loose. I slobbered some antiseeze on before puttin them back on :thumb:
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By 92civic_vx
- Sun Jun 12, 2011 1:08 am #259107 i am going thru the same thing right now, got 3 of the 4 nuts off (hatch still had half of both axles in it from the old h22, swapping sedans axles to hatch) sat there for an hour off and on (letting it cool for about 10 mins btwn) trying on the last 1 until my 1/2 impact siezed up tried a 1/2 inch breaker bar with a 3 foot bar on it and still nothing.
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