How to remove a bolt in axle shaft WITHOUT any special tools---Do it yourself

Heres a short tutorial on how to remove a bolt in axle shaft from a rear end without the need of a slide hammer or any kind of special pullers.The rear end shown in this video is a DANA 35 in a Jeep Cherokee. Ford 9 inch rearends are similar. PLEASE NOTE*** If your axle flange DOESNT have the access hole to remove the bolts as shown in this video...The rearend is likely a C Clip rearend and this method WILL NOT work,and the diff cover will need to be removed to access the C clips.

[@JaimeWyant]

5 years later, and your video is still helping people, will be doing today. Thanks!

[@chevellechris1]

Absolutely. BRILLIANT. One thing I have noticed from the time I used to turn wrenches for a living is a propensity for thinking ' i need a special tool for that ' great out of the box thinking!

[@smithjo4152]

Thank you so very much for this video. Your help was priceless! I was stuck and unable to go forward until I saw this video. Not all vehicles have the C-Clip that most do. My vehicle is a 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass Convertible.

[@smithjo4152]

This was great to remove my axel. Do these axels need to pressed back in?

[@JamesWide]

Thank you thank you thank you. Finally... no bullshit. Straight to the point

[@tonyrusso4211]

WOW, so easy I was wondering how to do that. I need to replace the baking plates and this was a great help. Thanks

[@joesmith5422]

That is the most saviest, coolest technique I've seen thus far and I'm not being sarcastic!!!!!!!!!

[@stevebarnes9694]

Helpful. Love the improvised method. Very US Army. Make what you got work

[@bufford14]

Nice tip, when I was a kid back in the 70's I used to hook a chain around the axle, then come out about 3 feet and tie a big knot in the chain, and then I would sling the chain. This is kinda like a hillbilly sliding hammer. Your way works good to, I'll have to remember that one. See ya Mark

[@jhuff6857]

I will be trying this in the morning, thanks.

[@unidentifiedbomb]

Installing a locker in the next two days on my 88' XJ and didn't even know I had to use some kind of blow to get it out, was just going to try to yank it with my hands on the studs, thank you!

[@In2Trux]

Not crud at all... VERY HELPFUL Keep them coming

[@edpdx50]

Thanks for the tip, saved me a bunch of headache.

[@mefistofer]

Thank you so much! great tip! Off to install the locker!

[@eamonotoole5382]

Thanks mate! Simple as! Never thought of that, ya saved me some headaches haha

[@marknavarro4092]

Thanks for the info reversing drum to take axel out. Great stuff very helpful

[@towfer374]

@DIONNA...some rear axles are held securely to the differential by C-Clips, which are accessed by removing the diff cover (draining it) pushing in on the axle shaft and removing tge C-clips. It is then that the axle itself can be removed.Repear for the opposite axleshaft. Assembly is reverse of disassembly.

[@MrMccurley]

Gotta replace seals on a mighty Max rear axle. At least I won't need a slide hammer. Excellent tip!!!

[@Firmanlad]

Awesome idea! Just saved me a hell of alot of time

[@iniazy]

You've just solved my problem! Thank you so much.

[@fpsevanj]

Very helpful with my suburban! Thanks!!

[@towfer374]

@Justin...as far as the bearings are concerned on a non C Clip (bolt in) rearend, you gotta take the axle to a machine shop. The only way to get the bearing and retainer off is to cut them off.Then the new bearing and retainer get pressed back on...BTDT...

[@treysadler2994]

Ok my axle rim tire all came out while going down the road.. beat it back in temporarily but it keeps sliding out and I can't figure out or see what holds it in I know it's got a locking ring but it's behind the bearing so if you could show me how is all held in I would appreciate it

[@cccp1917]

Props, man! Saved me a lot of time, money and cussing.

[@towfer374]

@GH32231...on your 99 I'm almost certain its a C Clip style that requires removing the center cover of the rearend for access.You should have 1 C clip for each axle shaft...

[@ChadVailbionicmidge]

Dude, I wish I had found this video last night, that access hole would have been handy if I was smart enough to figure it out. Thanks, great video

[@anatoliyromanov1641]

yes it did work out there is not a c clip on my 1999 grand cherokee lorado rear diff. i put rotor on backwards with the lug nuts on halfway and a few good pulls axle came out . thank you i think this is the easy way instead of a slide hammer .

[@gdiggons5678]

Cool. Ive always used a logging chain looped around a sledge hammer handle with a lot of swearing. I'm gonna try your method first and maybe I won't need as much cussing. Thanks

[@dcsob]

great stuff. always appreciate in the field expedient techniques.

[@1976kjell]

Great idea. Im gonna try it tomorrow and see if it works for me too :)

[@timtanner3827]

I have a Ford 9" that doesn't have an access hole in the axle. I have to use a wrench to get between the axle and brake pads. No big deal to remove, but when doing a disc conversion, it's terribly difficult. I noticed that my Wilwood kit for my small bearing 9" leaves quite a bit of end play. The bearing retainer doesn't seem to have a big enough lip to come close to the bearing. I guess I need to make some shims...

[@tonymaldonado2653]

thanks bud just saved me time on my project

[@towfer374]

If you mean that you have rear disc brakes, then yes I suppose it would work...but only if you are certain that you have bolt in rear axle shafts...if you have a c clip rear end no amount of pulling on the drum or didc is gonna help the axle release. Check your flange where the studs come through. If there's not a large access hole, its a c clip rearend.

[@joesmith5422]

Disregard on my question below, I read your full description of the video.

[@dr.tzweed.1850]

Thanks alot man that was problem and ill do it by your method

[@robertclymer6948]

Not crude at all!! This old school axle removal method is a lost art. You do not need a dang slide hammer, just do the drum and don't get too carried away when banging it back. A little at a time. (For rear drum brakes that is.)

[@Madmax-eb8ri]

Excelente, gracias por compartirlo. Mañana probaré en mi Ford Capri.

[@stoner2439]

That was great, now how do you get it back in?

[@0808morgan]

Do you have any video for removing the bearings on the bolt in axle assembly

[@mikerafone4736]

Geeze! that looked easy.

[@MrUbiquitousTech]

Good tip, thanks for sharing!

[@KLEEN454]

great video!

[@chalstonenavices7301]

Wow you made may day. Thanks

[@chewybrand238]

Works great! Thanks!

[@towfer374]

To the best of my knowledge, if the axle shaft DOES NOT have the access hole, then it is a C clip Axle.The bolts you are seeing do nothing more than hold the brake backing plate on to the axle housing.

[@jasoncreed6396]

Sweet bro thx so much big help!!

[@CortinasAndClassics]

Nice trick, thanks 👍🏻

[@studeystudebaker]

I have a semi floating rear end p30 chevy---does anything else hold the hub on beside the lug nuts-I have the brakes backed of can't seem to get the hub off ---good video

[@lesegomokgotlhoa2820]

Sir is they anything I remove in the carrier before pulling it out ? Am finding it had to pull it out please help

[@adrianstruys5644]

Thanks for that fab vid dude

[@joesgarage9135]

Thank you! You made my day!

[@joesmith5422]

I believe mine has a c-clip at the end of it in the differential. Would I be able to this to get around going inside of the differential? If so, what would be the technique to get it back in? The reason I ask is I'm going to be replacing the rear bearings on my truck. BTW I have a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited that's always 4x4 drive. Irregardless, incredible move. Sure beats special tools and everything else!

[@abdrahmanabdullah3113]

its really helps thank u sir

[@tomahawkfabworks2021]

great vid. helped me alot!

[@jessenurse9194]

What keeps the axle from coming out while driving?

[@towfer374]

On a non c clip rearend as described here...the nuts I described being removed holds the axle in place with a plate

[@ADRENALINEJUNKIE905]

Great video,such helpful tips 👍 👏 👌

[@adolfoabhurtadoc6106]

Excelent Idea!

[@12344321chase]

thanks m8 helpful tip

[@gh32231]

my 1999 jeep grand Cherokee is the same way except for the axle hole and I was wondering if you have to press the axle back in during reassembly or if you just put the bolts on the plate because after I reassembled it I did not press it in and now while driving I hear a sound that resembles dragging a chain down the road coming from the rear wheel which I just reassembled please answer this question I need help Thank you!

[@towfer374]

TOMMY35SS...Your question is beyond my scope of knowledge, I simply do not know the answer to your question, and I won't even make a guess, as I don't want to mislead you or others...sorry. I appreciate you watching my video...

[@jkmoneygone172]

I'm 99% sure that my driver side axle is bent. my truck wobbles bad when I drive. can I do the same to a 199I dodge ram 1500?

[@al3x555]

What if uhh my axle broke and the drum still stuck with the wheels and tires....

[@elecron200]

Tnx

[@gsb0b]

thank you great tip

[@techlove67]

pretty sure when they are set up that way. there is a retainer clip in the diff and now that clip is just gonna eat your spider gears alive. I could be wrong because not all do but some like Chevy do.

[@sharifnasser7635]

Jordan Hall Bolt in axles usually do not but yeah the dana's dont have c clips

[@joejarrell2578]

Will all bolt in axles have the access hole? I have an 88 Chevy 1500 and I see bolts behind the hub but I don't know if those are holding the axle in. If they are, how do I access the bolts without the hole?

[@anatoliyromanov1641]

so this would work with a rotor also instead of drum but the same concept ? . turn rotor around like drum use 3 lug nuts and pull .

[@Reallythiscat]

Freaking awesome!!!! Point blank!!

[@hittman1222]

Will this work on all AMC 20 rear ends?

[@wake2thareel]

haha thats awesome man thanks allot

[@bobgenesee41]

Is it difficult to line up the splines to reinsert the axle? I have not done that before and it would be a mess if I got the axle out and replaced the seal but then couldn't get it back in. Thanks for the helpful video.

[@1divemaster1]

+Bob Genesee I was wondering the same thing.....

[@kareduza]

How to replace Broken spider gears in Dana 35 rear differential Jeep TJ Sport 2001?

[@kulotsgarage118]

You da man!! Thanks!

[@angusmacgyver3673]

i am going to try this on a 1970 plymouth valiant with the bolt in axles as both sides need new bearings.

[@angusmacgyver3673]

this trick does not work for my 70 model plymouth, i must be missing a hidden snap ring or something.

[@74crazydiamond]

I worried that might mess the threads while doing that. Any suggestions?

[@grunt12000]

Thanks

[@jaimemendoza711]

And how do you put It back in?

[@frankcastle3281]

Hi i have a 1975 dodge charger se and i was wondering if you knew if my axle had a bolt in axle shaft or if it had a c clip end.... for the life of me i cant find this info, any help would be greatly appreciated

[@lestersabit7084]

Thank U very much

[@dalegribble8140]

Rock on brother ! !

[@celsomendes3712]

Muito bom, a idéia genial vou executar amanhã dessa forma, Abç

[@craigrobinson2745]

Legend thanks

[@dgomez405]

I have an 86 jeep cj7 and it doesn't have the access hole. It is such a pain and I can't seem to get a good enough grip to take the nuts off.

[@shaunbalgemino4458]

how do we know if not a c clip type? i have an old mitsubishi car and i try to remove the rear axle shaft and its very hard to take it out ...

[@robertsparkman2581]

I was considering buying a slide hammer until I saw this. Went outside and tried it. Axle came out in seconds.

[@dionna73]

This was helpful to me but my question is is there something that i would have to be taken off inside the differential in order to remove the axle? If this is a dumb question excuse me for this is my first time at working on the rear end of my truck.

[@alexfisher9808]

if it doesn't have the access hole to the 4 bolts, it has a c clip inside the rear diff housing.

[@justincianchetta465]

I have no problem removing my axles, but does anyone have a trick on removing the pressed on lock on the bearings

[@Bu115y]

That's awesome!

[@henrietn]

Thx. How I did not think of this myself ! :p

[@SSPanzer1000]

Thank you, this really helped out

[@levimiller5632]

The next person to say, "look for a hole or it has c clips" needs to disregard every warning label they see for the rest of their life.

[@bryonsturgill6906]

Ty sir

[@1divemaster1]

How hard is it to go back in?

[@kareduza]

Thank's :)

[@towfer374]

The other way it can be done is with an axle flange adapter and a slide hammer which can be rented from most auto parts stores, why do that...as you can see...special tools arent required.

[@besttourinrio9]

Really nice

[@kayrolnizam9309]

tq

[@djhogan598]

Holy shit thank you

[@gh32231]

I mean the access hole not axle hole