Momentarily stumped!

[Al Powell]

Hello there - today I went to pull the RF drive axle from my 1990 200 to
have the CV joints rebuilt.  The manual clearly states there should be a
large bolt holding the axle stub in place.  The bolt should install into the
outer end of the axle through the drive hob on the wheel.  I have the bolt
in hand so I know exactly what it looks like, including a 17MM recess for
socket.

Problem is, there's NO BOLT. What I see sticking thru the center of the
brake disc is a large threaded shaft with a big nut on it.  The nut has been
clenched down in two or three places with a punch and hammer.

I'm thinking that for some reason, instead of my car using the bolt, the end
of the drive axle ends in a threaded shaft (extending past the splined
portion of the axle) and I need to remove the nut in order to remove the
axle.  However, I'm not eager to make the car unusable by pulling something
and messing it up.

Has anyone else encountered this??  If so, am I in the right place, and
what's the torque spec on the nut when re-installing?  The bolt is supposed
to be 147 lbs/ft, but the Bentley makes no mention of this threaded shaft or
a torque spec for the nut.

Thanks in advance, list-compadres.
***********************
Al Powell
Fort Collins, CO
apowell at gocougs.wsu.edu
***********************