P38 Removing front half shafts???

SpudH said:

I swapped a diff last weekend. So that means I had double the work and as I was doing the bushings as well, I took the axle right off.
That took me all the free time I had from Friday night through to 3am Monday morning (I've 3 kids under 5 so daylight free time at the week end is at a premium )

Now obviously you wont be removing the axle so that saves a lot of time but on the flip side of that with the axle off I had full access for sledging the hubs off. This is where the time is. An hour will break down both sides once you've the right tools (make sure you have metric star sockets, its a 17 for the brake caliper IIRC). The hub bolts and the brake caliper bolts are on real tight, well in excess of 100nm so have a ratchet you're not afraid to bust by putting a pipe on it. I have a cheapo draper professional 1/2 drive ratchet with a steel handle that a bottle jack handle fits lovely over for just this purpose. It has a nasty enough feel to it but it has taken fair abuse so far without giving up.

The last time I took a hub off to do the bearing it took me 3 hours just to get the hub out of the hub carrier!! This time round I went with the sledge method described in the thread 4 pages back last week. Came out in 15 mins. But like I said, this time I had the axle out on the ground. Not sure how easy this would be if I was working under the RR. I tried first with a 24oz ball pein hammer but I'd still be at it with that so fore armed is fore warned.

The other complication is doing the gasket itself. Again this was easy on the ground with the axle lying face up but I wouldn't fancy it in place. The gasket maker I used needed 24hours to set before you do the final tighteneing so bear that in mind too.

BTW if you do get caught and decide to take off the axle, all the suspension mounting bolts are even sized so you're going to need 16, 18 and 24mm star sockets. I've never before in my life used an 18mm socket but there you go. I got away without corresponding spanners in those sizes (except the 24 but I'm sure you'll have one of those) but if they're available to you keep them to hand. They were also tightened by He-man! I was lucky I have a 24mm star podger that's all but indestructable for these but working under the jeep I needed every ounce of strength I had to get them off and I'm sure these would have ended my run of good fortune with my ratchet.

All in all, I'd say allow yourself the whole day for it.

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Irishrover said:

I know it's late in the day but for what they cost, it would pay to replace the half shaft oil seals at the same time.
I can just imagine Spud having Jackie Healey Rae complete with cap, swinging on the sledge (For a price !!)...if he's not busy on the phone.......Irish "In" joke !!! :confused2::hysterically_laughi

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