I'm tryin to replace a bent axle shaft on my 10 bolt, and I can't for the life of me get the pinion lock nut out. Any ideas? Is it locktited in? Do I need a special tool? Thanks!

 

Hold the carrier still by sticking a tire tool through it or something; tap on the head of the bolt a few times with a BFH to loosen it up; use a 6-point box end wrench on the bolt, not a 12-point; use a hammer on the wrench, to get some "impact" on the bolt.

DO NOT USE A 12-POINT TOOL!!!!! And tap on the end of the bolt before you start impacting a wrench, to keep from breaking the bolt at the end of the threads.

 

I used a high powered impact wrench on my camaro. And another time my buddy and I used about 3 foot bars - one to hold the pinion shaft, and one to turn the nut. That was on a Ford so it might be harder to do on a chevy.

 

OK, quick pop quiz.... how many points is your tool supposed to have?

 

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Ummm...8 points? I think I'm using the wrong term... I need to take out the small nut inside the differerntial so I can take the axle shafts out, not the big bolt on the outside.... Yeah.

 

The small thing inside the case is the bolt I was talking about; the big thing on the outside is a nut.

 

Ok, got it. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

it is locktite. I had the same problem when I was doing my rear end. I used the 6 point box end wrench just like others said and I still destroyed the bolt head.

If you still can't get it out, use a butane torch to heat up the carrier right where the bolt is while applying constant torque with a wrench. Apparently just a little heat completely deactivates locktite. I got mine out in about 30 seconds with a torch (after destroying the bolt and buying easy out sockets from sears)

 

Ok, I'll keep that in mind. Does that mean I should put locktite on the new bolt? Thanks for the heads up.

 

assuming you don't destroy the bolt, yes. In my case I bought a new one from the dealer and it already came with locktite on it.

 

So, as per RB's advice, I picked up a 6 point 5/16ths from sears, worked great. Now how do I get the axle shaft out? I've undone the bolt and mostly removed the pinion shaft ( the metal rod about 3 inches long, that's it, right?) and now I'm looking at a whole mess of gears and a spring assembly of some kind. What do I need to remove to free up the axle shaft so I can pull it out? I have a haynes manual, which is no help at all, as it is for my car's year, not the axle. Also, I've found haynes manuals to be generally unhelpful , but yeah. Any ideas?

 

very simple. Push in the axle you want to remove. Now that the pin is out, it will be able to go in. What you will see is that on the end there is a c-clip. As scarry as it sounds, that is the only thing holding the axle from flying out while you are driving. You should be able to get the c-clip off with some pliers and maybe some kind of picking device (bent niddle end). Once the clip is off, axle slides right out

 

Haha, thanks. I already did precisely what ya said... Shortly after posting that question I remembered what to do, I guess I forgot to hit submit when I posted that fact. Anywho, thanks for your help! I've just got to finish getting all that old gasket off so I can put the diff cover back and then I'm gonna take her for a spin. thanks again!