As many of you know, I've slowly been rebuilding my 1979 F-250 4x4 that I bought off of my uncle several years ago. Anyway, I decided to give the HD D44 a refresh. I had one bad lockout and one bad outer U-joint, so I decided to rebuild the outers of the axle. This included all new wheel bearings, lockouts, spindle bearings, U-joints, and of course all the corresponding seals. Everything was going along fine until it came to removing the spindle. My uncle and I tried everything to get it off. Most of our time was spent using his pneumatic hammer and pounding it from the back side. We also tried the hammer with a chisel attachment to try and wedge in-between the flange of the spindle and the caliper bracket to try and get some separation. We were soaking the whole thing with penetrating oil the entire time with pounded on it. The vibrations did allow the oil to get sucked into the seam, but it still wasn't enough to break it loose, After all this we were able to get maybe 1/64th an inch of separation, but that's all we were able to achieve. Does anyone know any tricks to removing this? Can the whole knuckle and spindle be removed and pressed out? I'm out of ideas. Thanks!


Picture for reference

 

They can be a real bugger. I always grabbed a block of wood and a big hammer. Place the block at various places around the spindle where the bearings go and beat on it pretty good. Just keep working your way around the spindle and it will eventually break free. The block of wood will keep you from marring up the spindle.

I am not saying it is the best method but it works.

 

I did put one of the retaining nuts on and tapped around the spindle. I obviously wasn't able to do it very hard or I would destroy the retaining nut and possibly the spindle. I'm definitely leery of pounding on the spindle. Especially where the bearings ride, but I've got to get it off somehow.

 

Be careful if you "tap" on the threaded side or bearing edge. That is a rawhide or sand filled mallet area only. 4ft piece 2x4 and a 5 lb sledge VERY CAREFULLY. One guy hold the 2x4, one guy with the best aim, run the hammer. Tap around and around, up and down.

I have read about and seen pics on here where a guy made a gear puller to work to remove the spindle by hooking against the spindle nuts threaded back on or maybe down inside the spindle housing? Maybe in here? https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...250-build.html

I would say yes the complete steering knuckle can be removed via the ball joints and then it (the spindle) can be pressed out.

Since you are that far int it might as well replace the upper and lower ball joints. You can rent a tool kit from most parts houses for the ball joints there is a separate 4x4 adapter sleeve kit.

 

Don't worry, I didn't tap on the spindle it's self. I spun on one of the retaining nuts and tapped on the nut with a brass hammer. I might have to try and do the 2x4 trick and see if that helps. Is there enough room to remove the upper ball joint with the axle shaft still in place? Removing the lower ball joint shouldn't be a problem.

 

They make what's called a spindle puller, it threads onto a standard 5/8 fine thread slide hammer and the other end threads on completely to the spindle threads. You use the force of the slide hammer to remove the spindle, they work great. I have the KD version, looks like this:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/KD-3910-Four-Wheel-Drive-Spindle-Nut-Puller-With-Threads-/330687785484?hash=item4cfe872a0c&item=330687785484&pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr

 

That's a pretty great idea. I might have to give that a try. I like that better than smacking on the spindle.

 

I knocked mine out by driving it from the backside at different points. It's a bitch.

 

We tried that with a BFH as well as a pneumatic hammer. No luck I might try buying that spindle tool. I needed the truck so I put it back together for now. Hopefully I'll get back to it soon

 

Have you ever heard or used this stuff? - Henkel North America

Also PB Blaster and or some aviation grade penetrating oil called "Mouse milk"?

 

If you buy the spindle tool, I'm not sure they still make them like the one I have (which is over 30 years old) but mine has three different internal threads inside the large end of the tool so that it fits many different spindles. IIRC, the second thread set in from the end fits the Dana 44. Here is a link with some good pics:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-On-4wd-Spindle-Puller-/281555723207?hash=item418e0763c7&item=281555723207&pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr

 

I think that's what I'm going to do. I found a spindle puller on amazon made my Lisle that has the 3 different threads on the inside. Apparently it works on everything from a D30 to a D60. I'm first going to see if Snap-On sells something similar. If not, I'll buy the one off Amazon.

 

I never used the Henkel stuff, but I did generously use PB Blaster