Axel shaft removal

[Dave Fain]

Message: 3
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:00:33 -0500
Try grabbing the head of the bolt with a good set of vise grips with nice
sharp teeth.  If it still slips, try grinding flat spots on opposite sides
of the bolt so the vise grips can get a better grip.  Once you break it
loose it will come out easily.
Dave

From: George Selby <gselby4x4 at earthlink.net>
To: quattro at audifans.com
Subject: Re: Axel shaft removal
Message-ID: <E1RQEpJ-0002Sz-A9 at elasmtp-kukur.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 12:01 PM 11/14/2011, you wrote:
>My idea was to saw the heads off and then try unscrewing
>tehm with vise grips ...  but it sounds like a doubtful plan.

I've done this, not too bad if you can get a cut off tool in
there.  I've also grabbed them from the outside with vice grips and
been able to turn them.  Once you loosen the pressure on them they
usually come out with no problem.

The secret to prevent problems is to clean the grime out of the hole
in the middle of the bolt, and then tap your triple square tool into
place, making sure it's fully seated before you apply torque to
it.  Sometime you can even salvage a bolt you thought was stripped by
getting the triple square tool farther into the bolt.

Also, I've had better luck with the separate triple square tool that
you slip a socket or wrench over as opposed to the all in one socket
style triple square tool.


George Selby