Hey everyone I’m replacing my front axle U joints on my f150 and im at the part where I need to remove the Spindal and it’s pretty rusted on there. I’ve been using a chisel and dead blow like a lot of people have recommended. I’ve thought about using an air hammer with a chisel attachment, is this a bad idea? If so any other advice?
thanks in advance

 

I would not do that. You definitely do not want to damage anything. Keep doing what you are doing, making sure to hit the spindle in different directions. When there is a gap between the spindle and knuckle place a chisel or flat blade screwdriver in there. Keep working back and forth;up and down. Work the chisel/screwdriver farther in as the gap opens up. It will eventually separate.

 

Okay thank you for the advice. Should I thread the locknuts on and hit them with the dead blow? I don’t want to hit the surface the bearings ride on.

 

The deadblow should not damage the threads but you could put the nuts back on if you want.

 

They make a spindle puller that fits Rangers / Explorers F150-F350
Use one of these with a slide hammer.

Google OTC spindle puller, there are a few people making these now

 

Used to beat the absolute **** out of them myself
Dead blow works, BFH works
A puller is the clean, easy way

 

Yeah I was looking into getting a puller, I’m gonna give it a few more tries before I pull the trigger on getting a slide hammer and puller attachment.

 

I went slide hammer and threaded puller route, it works well. But now that my truck gets regular front end service, with anti seize, I take the nuts off the spindle studs and just pull the spindle off by hand. I've used the slide hammer for other projects though, still a good tool to have on hand.

 

Just to update the thread I ended up getting a puller but not one that needed a slide hammer. I was able to get the Spindal off in like 30 seconds! Thanks for all the advice everyone