Replacing rear axles on my 04 x-type, working on the 1st (driver's) side.

Ready to remove hub but not sure which puller to use. Plate bolted to the lug studs - slide hammer? Center pinned wheel puller with arms hooked to the rear of the hub?

Looks like the slide hammer will work but likely to take off more than the hub itself and the wheel bearing is right behind it.

Any thoughts? Please????

 

Maybe I've answered my own question but still hoping for a reply.

Appears that the hub and bearing are 1 unit. 4 Torx bolts holding the unit onto the carrier. Remove Torx? Use center-pin puller to separate from shaft?

All the Torx I have will not fit between the hub and bearing housing. Need a road trip tomorrow to track down either a longer Torx shaft (access through the holes in the hub) or much shorter one to get at them from behind.

 

Get a 3/8" drive t50 torx bit that will fit through the holes, and a 4" or so extension. I got mine from advance auto. it just fit through the hole. I also had ones which did not quite fit through.
I replaced a rear wheel bearing recently, the hub took some pounding to crack loose.

 

I have used an allen wrench for the rear hub torx bolts, fits well enough to break them loose and re torque.
A puller is only a maybe need, the shaft is not a tight fit in the hub.

Please post an update, how do the axles come out, easily?

 

Thanks innzane, iownme!

I got the hub/bearing pulled from the axle shaft with a puller. I'm thinking, "Here we go!!!" Not so fast...

Can't figure out how to get the shaft out. I have it floating in the hub carrier on 1 end and separated (though not completely out) of the differential. In the past I've replace the shafts on other vehicles by pulling the entire thing through the hub carrier. Oh, no... not this time! CV is about 1/2" wider than the carrier.

Am I correct in thinking that I may have to remove the carrier to get this thing out? Don't want to remove it if there's another way but stuck right now...

Any ideas, suggestions? advise??

I keep telling myself how much easier the other axle will be IF I ever get there...

Thanks in advance!

Dave

 

I thought it would slide far enough into the hub to drop it from the trans axle, but I guess not.
It has been on my mind so I will have to check back to see the answer.

There is some speed sensor gizmo in the hub unit, maybe it needs pulled out?

 

When changing the hub bearing you do not removed the driveshaft. You require a puller like this:-
Clarke Universal Hub Puller | eBay
Basically,
1 - undo centre nut
2 - remove wheel, brake caliper and disc (rotor)
3 - remove 4 x torx bolts.
4 - use hub puller to pull hub away from car

Woops, just read that you have the hub/bearing off already.Sorry can't help with driveshaft, never had to remove mine.

 

Thanks for the thoughts guys.

What I HOPE to do is replace the rear axles, lower control arms, shocks, and change the gear oil in the diff while I'm there. Sounds easy enough...

This thing has fought me every step of the way. After finally tracking down all the parts, the main issue is the damage from the road salt we seem to love in these parts. Today's problem was removing the bottom bolt from the lower control arm to the hub carrier. Cracked the 1st 15mm socket pretty quick into the deal. It was my fault as I used a 12pt 1/2" drive with a breaker bar. Next up, 6pt 15mm, breaker bar and a 2' length of pipe. It moved about 2/3 of the way out before the bolt sheared. The nut end is welded onto the carrier so I'll need to grind or chisel that off. I've got a pretty straight shot at it but the axle/outer CV is in the way. That's what I've been trying to remove.

I'm using PB Blaster and even some Kroil I've been saving. Being almost mid-December in New England doesn't help either. I just keep telling myself that the 2nd side will be easier. A man needs hope!