I busted the inner axle shaft of my Dana 30. I am running too big of tires and too big of a motor to have the stock front axle, but i still need to repair it. I am trying to remove the passenger side axle shaft from the knuckle and am having a terrible time trying to do so. Anyone have any good tips to removing the axle shaft from the knuckle?

Is there a specialty tool that i can buy to keep on hand in case this happens on the trail besides a BFH? Something like slide hammer w/ a pattern on the end that attaches to the lugs on the jeep? Any information would be great. I'm w/o my jeep right now because of this problem and am desperate to get back on the trail.

You have the spindle pulled off right?

Spindle? I took off the tire/rotor/brake caliper, then i unbolted the 3 13 mm star bolts on the back of the knuckle and started yanking on the thing to pull the axle shaft out. It just doesn't want to budge. I turned the rotor around and attached the lugs a little bit so i could use the rotor as a slide hammer to pull the thing out, and have had no luck at all. Any information would be great thanks

I'm currently doing this to my '90 to replace the u-joints. A slide hammer will work if you bolt it to the lugs. Dipshits at the auto parts place I rented one at didn't have that part.

I just removed those three bolts that hold the hub assembly to the knuckle, soaked it with PB Blaster and banged the shit out of it with a big chisel and BFH. Got a nice chisel at Home Depot with a handle, $10.

BTW, you might want to try and find a hub puller, someone suggested that to me. That hub assembly is probably just seized, you might want to try some heat too.

a few really hard hits will help loosen it up with a bfh, don't be afraid, you won't hurt it.

a few really hard hits will help loosen it up with a bfh, don't be afraid, you won't hurt it. i've seen birfields blow and get lodged in there so bad the owners had to beat the crap out of them and pull and push and fight to get the damn things out. i never had the problem though. ( i guess the axle is apart too often, thats problem not good )

heat helps. The way that always works for me is, first disconnect the steering on that side so you can flop the spindle back and forth without resistance- then put the bolts back in and engage a few turns. Use a shorty sacrificial socket (cuz it'll get flattened a bit) and whang on it good, go around and hit each bolt HARD a few times.
Don't do this without the socket or you'll mushroom the bolt heads and not be able to get a socket back on...
Keep working at it, heat it up, PB Blaster, you'll get it.

Is it a YJ?:confused:

Yeah well i finally got the shaft out of the knuckle yesterday. I rented a huge slide hammer w/ a hub puller attachment. It took 45 min. of hammering away and it finally came out. I busted the passenger side inner axle shaft and it was sheared in half. Interesting what a big motor and low gears w/ big tires can do to solid steel. Thanks for the input guys and i'll keep you informed on how everything goes.:nuke: :nuke: :D :D