vcu removel

Need some help please. I am in the process of removing my vcu and shafts, all went well until I tried removing the front shaft from the rid, it wont separate and I am now stuck for ideas , would be great full if any one has had any issues with this as every pic/video I've seen it pretty much just pops off, apart from mine that is........ tried all sorts but cant get it apart.

What have you tried so we aint repeating?

There is a 'nipple' on the end of the front shaft and a dent on the output flange on the IRD.
It might take a tap to seperate them.

rubber mallet, pulling, pushing, Flat headed screwdriver, brute force, nothing seems to move it, I have sprayed it with WD40 and am hoping that may penetrate overnight. try again in the morning

Have you slid it back on the splines on the shaft?

Yep sure have , I was worried I would tear the rubber seal to much force was put on it.

Are you on about the flange at the ird?

yes the where you remove the six bolts.

that's what I cant get out , what's the yellow cross all about mine has the same mark on it??

Mine took a tap to free it but nowt heavy...

Not sure on the cross, I don't think the prop has been off since new - probably just done to make the likes of us scratch our heads

Im presuming you had to tap it from the back against the ird ? fingers crossed she will come of tomorrow. thanks for the info.

Smack it where the yellow cross is with a proper hammer

why there, ?? Had ago with a club Hammer, cant get a swing with my sledge hammer lol

Perhaps im being a bit to cautious will batter it tomorrow!!

Cos that's where I'd smack it. it's not a target put there by Land Rover! Or is it?

use a long screwdriver put the screwdriver blade in the grove and hit it rearwards with a hammer and it will move

You could try putting it in gear and moving! When you hear a great big thud, its hit the floor. 2nd thoughts, don't try that.

I don't recall mine being difficult to separate. Have you dropped the VCU at all? If I remember right, I dropped the front and back of the props a bit and rested those on bricks, then started lowering the VCU - but if you lower the VCU a bit first, it might give you a bit of play.

I also have never had an issue that a tap of a hammer doesn't fix. You could always try putting the bolts back in loosely and drive back and forward. I'm guessing the steel cover play may have stuck to the flange so be ready with some new grease if this comes off

Thinking about it, I loosened all the bolts, front and back, before I them removed them all. I did a couple at a time, then pushed the car along a bit to move the 'next couple' to where I could get at them. This may have helped free it up.

I had 1 side of the car up on blocks, simply put some more blocks in front and pushed the car onto those!