Can’t remove axles

[jstockton]

I’m trying to remove my rear axles and am having zero luck. Caliper is removed, rotor is off, ABS sensor is removed, and the 4 nuts are removed. I was able to pry the mounting plate loose, but the axle won’t budge. I’ve tried PB Blaster and worked the slide hammer for 45 minutes and am defeated. Any suggestions on what to do? I have a new axle and bearing assembly that I’m installing so I don’t care if the old stuff gets wrecked.

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[Pinion]

I think these are C clip axles, aren't they?
You probably need to drain the differential and pull the clips to separate the shafts from the diff.

 

[Blues Fan 30]

I’m trying to remove my rear axles and am having zero luck. Caliper is removed, rotor is off, ABS sensor is removed, and the 4 nuts are removed. I was able to pry the mounting plate loose, but the axle won’t budge. I’ve tried PB Blaster and worked the slide hammer for 45 minutes and am defeated. Any suggestions on what to do? I have a new axle and bearing assembly that I’m installing so I don’t care if the old stuff gets wrecked.

Maybe try adding a plate weight in front of your slide hammer to get some extra oomph. If you've got it all apart it should slide right out.

 

[Blues Fan 30]

I think these are C clip axles, aren't they?
You probably need to drain the differential and pull the clips to separate the shafts from the diff.

Ahhh yeah seems on Dana 35 rears it may be a c clip setup.

 

[Eyeball]

I think these are C clip axles, aren't they?
You probably need to drain the differential and pull the clips to separate the shafts from the diff.

Only a D35 use a C-clip on a Wrangler. Since @jstockton mentioned removing the 4 nuts, that makes me think he is dealing with a D44 which does not use a C-clip to retain the axle shaft.

 

[Lofty]

None of the JL axles use C-clips. If all fasteners have been removed, the only thing you are fighting is the seal being retained within the tube and any corrosion that may exist. If you can get a pry bar between the e-brake backing plate and the tube flange, pry there, otherwise keep slide hammering. One other option, (but you risk damaging your rotor) is to put your rotor back on the shaft (either as installed or backwards) with at least 3 lug nuts, and hit the rotor on the inside with a soft blow hammer where the caliper would be.

 

[Gorilla57]

Release your parking brake........

 

[Pape]

Did the rotor trick back in the day, did not care much was replacing them. the high light from that fix was the 4 pressfits bolt from the shaft retaining plate, ending up welding them to be able to remove the nuts

 

[Resin Addict]

Curious…and this is beyond my level of mechanical knowledge, but am having a wheel bearing replaced on my 2018 Sahara (JL), and the service dept. called and is having the same issue…can’t pull the axle.
thoughts?

 

[Starboard M]

When I swapped to Yukon rear shafts I flipped the rotor around and used it as a slide hammer. Took a couple hits, but Im certain it was less force than any real slide hammer.

I know the Rubicon axles are non C clip, and I didnt think the smaller ones were either, but I cant say for certain.

Maybe twisted splines at the carrier? Pop the diff cover and see if there is any internal damage (obviously you would have to fill the diff back up after doing this)?

 

[Eyeball]

None of the JL axles use C-clips. If all fasteners have been removed, the only thing you are fighting is the seal being retained within the tube and any corrosion that may exist. If you can get a pry bar between the e-brake backing plate and the tube flange, pry there, otherwise keep slide hammering. One other option, (but you risk damaging your rotor) is to put your rotor back on the shaft (either as installed or backwards) with at least 3 lug nuts, and hit the rotor on the inside with a soft blow hammer where the caliper would be.

This might be way off base because most of my Jeep mechanical knowledge is based on my TJ but if some JLs are still using Dana 35 axles AND if the the D35 has not changed since its TJ days, they do indeed have a C-clip.

However, I am likely wrong since time marches and JLs are packed with the latest and greatest…

 

[Stuckinthesand]

This might be way off base because most of my Jeep mechanical knowledge is based on my TJ but if some JLs are still using Dana 35 axles AND if the the D35 has not changed since its TJ days, they do indeed have a C-clip.

However, I am likely wrong since time marches and JLs are packed with the latest and greatest…

Technically it’s a D35 but they call it an M200 and it was a complete redesign. It now has a 7.87” ring gear and no c clip.

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