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Removing rear axle on a solid diff vs exec

KeRaizee

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how do i remove the rear axle, the wheel wobbles while driving and the brake pad rubs against the disk, so i need to replace the axle, its on the drivers side rear axle, any instructions on how to do it would be great thanks
 

rambunctious

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I've done plenty of early Holdens and a VN although I cannot remember the VN, however they should be almost the same.

Once you have the car supported and the wheel off you need to remove the caliper, 2 bolts and the brake line, so you can then remove the disc.

Now the bit I'm not sure of. On the old Holdens you then undo the 4 nuts holding the backing plate and flange by placing the socket and extender through the large hole in the axle plate and the

axle should now come out, however, on the VS you may have to undo the hand brake cable and remove the hand brake assembly first, hopefully someone will know.

The axle may need a bit of persuasion to get it out.

Hope this helps.
 
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K-BAGZ

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Jack vehicle up and support with jack stands.
Handbrake off and transmission in neutral.
Remove wheel.
Remove brake caliper and ziptie up out of the way.
Remove brake rotor.
Remove axle retaining nuts. You can use the brake rotor as a slide hammer to remove the axle and you can wiggle the axle out past the handbrake shoe assembly.
You'll lose a fair bit of differential oil, so make sure buy some to put back in.

I'd also recommend doing a wheel bearing set for that axle. A set usually comes with a bearing, seal and skrink ring.
 

Not_An_Abba_Fan

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Just to expand a bit, the axle retaining nuts will be inside where the handbrake shoes are. You can get to them by rotating the axle so that the largest hole in the wheel flange (the bit where the wheel studs are) lines up with each nut, then undo them with a socket and extension bar through the hole. Once undone, as above, use the rotor as a slide hammer, put the rotor back on but backwards, so the handbrake drum is facing out. Fit two nuts on backwards (so the taper faces out) about 5 or 6 turns and then grab the rotor, push it all the way in, then pull it out firmly, this should break the seal and the axle should pop out.

If you jack that side up so the end of the diff is higher than the centre, then you won't lose any diff oil.
 

jason1

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Just to expand a bit, the axle retaining nuts will be inside where the handbrake shoes are. You can get to them by rotating the axle so that the largest hole in the wheel flange (the bit where the wheel studs are) lines up with each nut, then undo them with a socket and extension bar through the hole. Once undone, as above, use the rotor as a slide hammer, put the rotor back on but backwards, so the handbrake drum is facing out. Fit two nuts on backwards (so the taper faces out) about 5 or 6 turns and then grab the rotor, push it all the way in, then pull it out firmly, this should break the seal and the axle should pop out.

If you jack that side up so the end of the diff is higher than the centre, then you won't lose any diff oil.
my right axle wont come out, got any ideas on ways to get it out? its got that little bit of play to it but no matter what i do it wont come out
 

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Slide hammer with axle adaptor.
 
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rambunctious

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FWIW the play may simply be in the bearing or it is moving against the bearing keeper ring.
Also the slide hammer needs to be a heavy one (usually) not the dent puller lightweight type because at the cars age the bearing may be seized/rusted in.
My slide hammer weighs about 3-4 kg.
I have had the odd axle where I needed to use oxy to heat up the housing
Not recommended but when yous on yer honeymoon in 1972 and need to change a bearing on a sunday afternoon at a servo in the middle of nowhere, then anything goes.:(
 

Smitty

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Slide hammer with axle adaptor.
.. works every time!

the genuine original factory oil seal failed... so it had to come out
DSC00766a.JPG
 

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I've always managed to get them out with a reversed rotor. Might take a bit of effort but it works. I do have a slide hammer I made to work on IRS diffs but that is a different story.
 
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jason1

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ended up getting it out, took a stupid amount of effort but sorted it out just had me stumped because the left side came out no issues what so ever
 
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