Removing half shafts from the diff in location

[Paul Vercoe]

Greetings everyone,

 

I was wondering if any of the old hands could give me some advice please on unbolting the retaining nuts on the half shafts at the inner (differential) end.  I would like to replace the universal joints while overhauling the rear suspension (LCAs) with the diff still in place.  As you know, there is not much space, and when I attempted to use an open ended spanner they were difficult to budge and started to round out.  Is the solution a narrow bodied 14mm socket? Many thanks, Paul.

[1600dave]

Use a flat-ish ring spanner (eg the type that are open one end, ring the other - not your normal ring spanner with the ends "cranked"or "offset"). Should go over the nut with a bit of fiddling. Depending on how the half shaft is oriented, you can get more or less clearance to get the spanner in there if you rotate the half shaft. Jacking the wheel up a little to keep the half shaft "straight" rather than drooping down if the car is up on axle stands, etc with the wheels dangling can help as well.

 

[Paul Vercoe]

Thanks Dave - will do.

Paul V