Front CV axle DIY?

[andrewwynn]

I think the tis mentioned using a pair of small tire iron or something.

Nothing beats my home made press. I can apply ≈ 40,000# impact force (preload 25, hammer additional 15).

On my first stuck axle, I striped the threads of my slide hammer trying to pounds it out. Then I bent the crap out of some thick steel.

The rotor fix worked comically easy. I spent about 80 minutes before the rotor tool and not 45 seconds with the awr press.

Then on a customer car where I wasn't replacing the CV so needed to be more gentle, I set up with the rotor and based on the estimated torque on the 1" lubricated bolt, applied just about 12.5 tons of force before it exploded into three pieces.

When I cut the "top hat" off the rotor I icky left about 3/8" thickness. Fortunately I had two rotors so I kept about 5/8" on the second take.

I preloaded to about the same torque so 25,000# but then hit the end of the 1" bolt to apply 10-15,000# impact on top of the preload. Instant satisfaction! I could tell it moved becusse I could turn the bolt. So I turned bolt a little after 2-3 hits. After about ten reps I could just turn the bolt no more need of hammer. That bastard was very rusted in.

Tis mentioned some special tool to hold the top of the swivel bearing.