I learned a handy trick for getting a rear axle shaft loose this weekend and thought I'd share it.

If you have a sticky axle shaft that doesn't want to budge, the manual calls for a special slide hammer tool that will pop the shaft loose. Just as I was ready to cave in and go try to find/buy that tool, a buddy gave me a great idea:

Attach the brake drum backwards on the axle hub and only give the lugs a few turns so that the drum has room to travel back and forth on the studs. Grab the drum with both hands and pop it towards you against the lugs. Works just like a slide hammer and the axle came out on the first try.

 

You're lucky...more than one try and you could have had a bunch of flat threads on your lugs.

 

Good point! I was pretty careful to pull it STRAIGHT out to the lugs without ripping down the threads. Didn't do any damage at all with one quick tug...

 

You can also use a heavy chain - use two lug nuts to hold one end to the axle hub, leave some slack (12 inches or more) in the chain, and then jerk it tight. The heavy chain acts like a hammer -

but be careful - it is easy to pinch some part of you in the chain links.