spindle won't come off
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Dayton Montgomery
spindle won't come off
The u joint on a 78 f 150 4x4 the front left to be exact broke, so I went to repair it. I started to disasemble everything, when I came across the spindle attached to the steering knuckle. the five nuts attached to the lug nuts came off very surprisingly they were very rusted. But the spindle which I thought should just slide off fairly easy won't even move. I think the 27 years of rust bonded the metal like super glue. This has been a big problem for quite some time I have continually sprayed rust buster all over, I have been pounding on it with a rubber mallet, a hammer and chissel, I thought air tools, so I barrowed a compressor and started using a air hammer with chissel. I might have moved it a little but I not sure. Is there any sercrect that I am not aware of I really like to reuse this piece so I am trying to be as gentle as possible, but it is beginning to be very frustrating, Any advice would be great since I am not a professional mechanic, just self taugh in the garage, I would really like to get my truck on the road soon.
thanks, vince
thanks, vince
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Oregon
You can go ahead and hit the face of the spindle (where it bolts to the knuckle) with a metal hammer, rather than a rubber one. You won't hurt it any. Otherwise, you can apply some heat to it with a torch; often times a little heat is all you need to break those stubbern bonds.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Concrete WA
dean307
What I have found works best is a big plastic no bounce hammer from Mac or Snap On. You can hit top then bottom and this has always worked for me without damaging the threads. Good luck.
What I have found works best is a big plastic no bounce hammer from Mac or Snap On. You can hit top then bottom and this has always worked for me without damaging the threads. Good luck.
New User
Joined: Jun 2005
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as stated use a dead blow hammer , the bigger the better, hit it strait down till the spindle moves then drive a small chisle in the crack, then hammer up from the bottom, drive another chisle in there, hammer down on the top,chisle, bottom,chisle, til it comes off, remember the chisles are only a fulcrum, your not trying to use them to wedge the spindle off, just as a spacer. When you reassemble it clean the spindle with a wire brush then coat the mating surface, liberally, with grease, this will stop any further problems removing the spindle again.
Last edited by 79biggerbronco; Jun 27, 2005 at 11:47 PM.
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From: winder
when you put it back together, clean the rust of where the spindle goes in the knuckle and use some antiseize
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Posting Guru
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From: In the Middle
I have a spindle puller I use, it works real well. It is a large internally threaded socket that screws on the spindle and has about a 15 pound slide hammer type thing on it; about 10 seconds and about 3 whacks with the slide hammer it's off. It eliminates the possibility of messing up your spindle also. Maybe a shop near you has one you could borrow/rent?
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
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pep boys loans the slide hammer and socket (spindle puller)that 460 referenced....it takes a lot more slide hammerin on the old trucks than he indicated though....its how Ford does it...no ruined parts.....good luck