Yeah i was worried about rounding them too. but i was able to do it. Maybe see if you can use a ratchet tie down strap. But if you feel compfortable using an impact gun for removal maybe try it. Ive never actually used one so i dont know how easy it is to cause damage with them. I would spend a couple days soaking them in the PB Blaster penetrating oil or some sort of pentrating oil. seemed to do the trick for me.

 

I had already been soaking it with Kroil. But I guess I can keep soaking it while I mess with the halfshaft.

I might could try a strap or something. I'd just have to find if there is a place to tie it down at.

The thing with an impact wrench. Is you are supposed to use special impact extensions and sockets. Which gets expension. I'd debate just using my regular stuff. But might at least get a T-55 impact Torx bit and use my regular extensions.

 

i wonder why? you think it might round off your extension ends though?

 

It could round them out. Sockets could shatter or crack. Sure wouldn't want to break the Torx off in the bolt. Though there are alot of people who use regular sockets and extensions with their impact wrench. I'm thinking it wouldn't be much of a problem with 70 ft/lbs. compared to something like 300-400 ft/lbs. Especially just a one off use vs. everyday.

I think most of the problem is with the socket with regards to cracks or shattering.

I'll try it again with my wrench first after I get the half shaft out of the way

 

Good luck! just take your time and you should be ok.

 

God, don't tell him that. He will still be talking about it next month!

 

 

 

Y'all stop. OCD is a serious. If he continues at this pace. He will be walking around the insane asylum very soon muttering about C4 hubs and rounding off his nuts.

Shhh,please nobody mention the "Chicken Little", the sky is falling thing. Poor Josh will be up all night worrying about that one too.

Just yanking your chain Josh! Now smile and go fix your car already!

 

Too late.

 

Josh, you will henceforth be known as "Rainman"! and all your posts must be written in the third person

j/k

 

Now you have hurt my feelings!

 

Good luck on the repair.

 

Josh - wish you were closer!

For the couple of times I use the impact I've used impact extensions (on sale from Harbor Freight) with regular sockets and vice versa with no issues. Now lets talk about the T55 you bought - is it one piece or two pieces? The last time I did mine the wife came back with the only T55 she could find, it was a two piece and it barely worked to get all 6 bolts out and back in.

When I pulled the original hubs I did need to use an impact to get them off.
I'm going to find a set of the one piece ones and put in my tool box.

 

When you have a stuck bolt of any flavor... heat is your friend. as is the action of an impact wrench. the hammering effect will help loosen it. just keep pressure INTO the bolt so the socket is square and wont slip out.

just dont set the car on fire..(seriously its easier to do than you might think)

 

Rainman, now that the halfshaft is out of the way, spray some PB blaster on the torx bolts. Let it sit. Get a 1/2" drive ratchet & put a pipe or jack handle on it for a breaker bar. Use some muscle and break the bolts free with any T55 driver. You don't need some cryo-treated, kryptonite resistant tool.

 

Boy, I've soaked the bolts with Kroil for several days. I did use my 1/2" extendable lug wrench. But you really don't have enough room for something much longer than a 1/2" ratchet or breaker bar anyways.

The problem is when you go to turn the wrench, it just wants to lean instead of turning. I think that is mainly because of having to use extensions and that the bolts are hard to break loose.

When you keep putting your muscle into it, it will eventually slip off. Just like the other poster who said they needed someone to tie something around the ratchet head to keep it from leaning when they tried turning it.

I think it would be alot easier to just spend the $10 or so on a cheap impact wrench instead of busting knuckles and getting nowhere.

 

Yep, just get one. The hub probably is original and those bolts have been in there a long time. As I said before I had to use an impact the first time. Used a buddy's shop so I don't remember how big the compressor was. I have a battery powered impact I use in my garage because I can take it to the track to change wheels.

 

This brings back memories! I replaced a rear hub last year after hearing a clicking noise. After I replaced the hub, I found out it was actually a frozen u-joint on the half shaft!

Anyway, I was reading that you were having trouble taking the 3 torx bolts holding the hub out. Do yourself a favor, get a battery powered impact gun. They're small and fairly powerful and I guarantee you will use it a lot, I do. I picked one up from Harbor Freight along with some impact torx bits for 1/2 and 3/8 drive. I used one extension, a universal joint and the electric impact gun to loosen the 3 bolts. They came out easy, you just need to loosen them and then using a regular 1/2 drive, remove them. If you have a 3/8 drive with a joint in it, that works well too. You will need a torque wrench to tighten those 3 bolts though. I used my 3/8 drive torque wrench to tighten them.

It helps to have someone there helping you out, at least to turn the wheels so you can see the bolt you're working on. As far as the torque wrench goes, I picked up one from eBay, it was like $40 and worked well. Matter of fact, after the job was done, I had my buddy recheck the torque on the spindle nut and it was off by only 2lbs/ft. The 36mm socket can be bought at any local parts store, I got one for use on an impact gun at NAPA.

I did the job with my 5 year old in an afternoon, it took 3 hrs from start to finish, one lemonade break.

Busting out the half shaft for the u-joint swap was another story. I left the hub installed in the knuckle and using a variety of extensions, removed the retaining straps. I disconnected the tie rod end, leaf spring and control arms to remove the whole knuckle. Piece of cake with the impact gun. Cost me $40 to press in new joints at Corvette Connection in Bohemia.

The replacement hub I bought came from eBay, but I don't remember from which vendor. I remember it cost about $90 and had a lifetime warranty.

I am sure I forgot something, but if you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

 

I'm probably gonna get an air power impact wrench. That is what they have cheap on eBay. About the only other thing I can think I could use it for is the front two caliper bracket bolts. As I think those are something like 160 ft/lbs.

The only thing I had to remove to get the halfshaft out was pull the tie rod, and disconnect the sway bar from the knuckle. After getting the halfshaft pulled from the spindle as it was stuck, the halfshaft came right out.

You can rent that 36mm socket from Autozone. And I've already got a 80 ft/lb torque wrench that I can use on the hub bolts. But I'll rent the 200 ft/lbs torque wrench for the spindle nut. I'll torque it to 185 ft/lbs to make sure it is torqued as the spec is 164 ft/lbs. Some go to 200 ft/lbs.

The only thing I'm worried about is pressing in the new ujoints. As I'm gonna use that ball joint/ujoint C clamp press from Autozone. I don't really like it as it is real easy for the thing to go crooked when you start tightening the screw. When I tried to use it to press in a ball joint on a different cars control arm, it kept wanting to press it in crooked. So, I had to take it to a shop to let them press it in straight. I also plan on doing the driveshaft, and that looks like a pain as you have to press the front ujoint in the driveshaft, then in the transmission slip yoke.

Here's an article I followed on the hub replacement. It starts on page 77:

http://editions.amospublishing.com/K...1&pagenum=1&f=