Reluctant half-shaft

verifier · Post by **verifier** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 11:47 pm

Doing a transaxle swap, and out of the four half-shafts I had to remove, three came out easily using a copy of the SST remover/installer tool made by a blacksmith friend. Passenger-side shaft of the good car, with the bad trans, does not want to come out. We ended up removing trans with it in place today, and still cannot drive that thing out. Removed end cover of diff and see nothing bound or unusual, snap ring looks ok. Any ideas about why it won't come out like others did. Have really wailed on that tool and it won't budge. Has the normal in/out free movement.

keith · Post by **keith** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 7:39 am

Use a crowbar. I've removed and installed quite a few axles without that special tool.

takza · Post by **takza** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 8:50 am

If it's a difficult one...I use a piece of wood between the crowbar and the alum housing to dist the load...be a bummer if the casing cracked.

Post by **Petros** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:17 pm

If you have access to the little spring-clip thingy on the end of the spline (with the side cover off of course), you might try removing that. It might have gotten damaged or bend on install and will not allow the axle to pop out. If it still will not come out after you remove the clip there might be a broke peice of metal caught in the spline shaft. Was the tranny bad? Is that why you are replacing it? If so a loose peice of metal caught in the spline might be the problem. You need to find it and see if you can remove it from the spline.

I have removed the front axles a number of times on several different tercels, and other cars too, and never had an issue.

verifier · Post by **verifier** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:37 pm

Thanks for the replies!

Petros, in response to the question about trans damage, yes, the diff sounded like a rock-tumbler, and quite a bit of big chunks came out with oil drain. Having opened it now, I can see about three and a half teeth missing on the ring gear (yikes!). Very likely that there is some tiny shrapnel in the spline/split-ring area blocking removal. At least I got one axle out. Guess I'll be shopping for one of the EMPIs pretty soon. Or, maybe disassemble and replace inboard CV?? Have new (old) trans already, but with torn boots and lots of grit.

Post by **Petros** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 8:13 pm

I wonder how you managed to damage the diff gears. I ran a trans almost dry for a year, trashed the trans but on disassbly the diff gears looked like new (even with about 240k miles on them!).

You might be able to clean out the metal chunks from the axle spline by using lots of solvent and compressed air blown in the spline area (do it a number of times). Also see if you can remove the clip on the tip of the spline shaft, if there is even a tiny chunk of metal under it you will not get the axle out since the spring clip can not compress to pass through the splines.

Good luck.

verifier · Post by **verifier** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:33 pm

Petros
Yeah, it really surprised me too! Had plenty of oil, never driven to extremes, and only about 130K on car. Those teeth on the ring gear are pretty massive too! I suppose one went, and that was when I started hearing light clicking sound, and then it was just a domino effect. Sound just got louder and more consistent by next day. The pieces that came out have some pretty good imprints on them from other teeth!
We live fairly close to each other. Where do you go for parts, etc? NIX99?
PM sounder77@comcast.net

Post by **Petros** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:51 pm

I buy my parts at the Lynnwood Pull-a-part. They are so cheap there that if I can not find what I need there, I do not get it. They almost always have one or two Terc4wd, and several non-4wd there. I understand they have permitted a new Pull-a-part up here near the Arlington airport. If so I will buy a year's pass and do regualar shopping there for all my old cars.

Last year I needed a trans and all the wrecking yards want 350 to 450 (if they had one). Pull-a-part would have only been $50, of course when I needed a trans there was not one to be found there for a month. I found a rust bucket Terce4wd abandoned in Darrington. I located the owner and offered him $100 for it, I only had to put a battery and radiator in it and drove it home. Took the trans and a near new clutch out of it, saved the engine, good tires and a number of other parts, and then got $83 for it in scrap. It is the second one I have stripped, so I should not need most parts for a while. A lot of work, but cheaper than anything else I could have done to my Terc going again.

verifier · Post by **verifier** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:47 am

Been to Lynwood for other cars. I too recently picked up a donor car, 83 4WD Terc, and will be mining the parts out of it. Trans, of course, engine is strong and sounds good, and a bunch of other stuff. My old trans is ok, synchros not so hot, and of course diff is toast. Had a bad vibration in the shaft to the rear diff, so glad to get that off the "new" car too! What's best way to get rid of what's left? I plan to strip it first.

keith · Post by **keith** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:53 am

I'd be interested in getting the inclinometer. Not interested in the gauges, I want the housing to put other gauges in. Also interested in the shroud that goes under the steering wheel and the taillights.

verifier · Post by **verifier** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:15 am

keith wrote:I'd be interested in getting the inclinometer. Not interested in the gauges, I want the housing to put other gauges in. Also interested in the shroud that goes under the steering wheel and the taillights.

I'll check condition of those parts and get back to you tomorrow or Sat.

verifier · Post by **verifier** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:03 pm

Keith,

Tried to PM this to you without success...error.

The tail lights are in good shape, no cracks, other than a little of those spider cracks inside the plastic from age, sun, etc., visible in bright sunlight only. Passenger side has about a 3" piece of the rubber edge beading missing at the bottom. All bulbs (working) and holders; connectors where applicable.

Clinometer is in good shape as well. One tiny split in the vinyl, or whatever it is, about 3/16" long, in the back. With bracket, without gauges (per request).

Cover under steering wheel I have, but it has a couple of holes in it from previous owner where he added ignition switch and starter button. One hole about 1" dia., other about 1/4".

Local recycler sells tailights for $40-$60 each! How does $50 + shipping sound for both tail lights and clinometer with bracket, no gauges? If you want cover under steering column I'll throw that in too.

If interested, I will take some pics.

Dan

keith · Post by **keith** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:04 pm

Got all four messages, I replied, got the same error but I'm sure it got through.

Gasoline Fumes · Post by **Gasoline Fumes** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:09 pm

verifier wrote:What's best way to get rid of what's left? I plan to strip it first.

Sawzall! Or find somebody who will haul it away for scrap.

takza · Post by **takza** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 4:19 am

If you can find a place that recycles scrap metal...you'll be surprised at what they'll pay for even scrap steel or cast iron...not to mention alum or copper.

Tercel4WD.com