I'm trying to remove the nut that secures the drive shaft to the outer wheel bearing and I can't get if off with an impact gun at 120psi.

I have properly removed the indented section of the nut and liberaly sprayed the nut area with penetrating oil.

I'm going to ask a silly question...counter clock wise(reverse on the impact gun) to remove it.....right?

My additional concern is that if I cant get the nut off and I need to take it to a mechanic, because I removed the indented section could the axle nut work it's way off while I drive??? I would think possibly, but if I can't remove with 120psi air gun what are the chances it could work it's way off while driving?

 

I used a bar breaker + 4 feet pipe a couple days ago for super leverage

 

Thanks donjulio...
I tried that too, with no luck.

This is one tough nut!!!!!

I thought about heating it up with propane, but I could damage the bearings and cook the lubricant...if that dosen't work I wouldn't take a chance on driving on it.

 

It shouldn't come off while you drive it too a shop. You could always just pay a shop to loosen the nut and torque it back so you can get it off when you get home.

 

Thats a good idea... their's a Meineke service station is just down the street from me, they helped me out with heating up rusted exhaust bolts when I replaced my exhuast system.

One other thing I observed while efforting the nut removal was I had a hydraulic jack supporting the drivers side and the passanger side (tire mounted) was on ramps. While I was using the breaker bar with a long pipe I noticed that the drive shaft was rotating CCW while I applied pressure. Should that happen? I used vice grips to secure the drive shaft, but still couldn't get the axle nut to come off.

 

I undid the axel nut while tires are still on the ground or with someone inside holding the brakes.

 

Isn't the torque on that nut 150lbs?

3/4" breaker, proper sized socket and a long enough cheater bar should do the trick.

Don't use vice grips! All they do is damage the part you clamp with them...either do as the other poster and use the brakes to hold it till you break it loose, or use a much bigger impact wrench.

 

I used a 3/4" breaker bar with a 5 foot long pipe with no luck.
I also wrapped the axle with 1" rubber padding, so the axle would not slip and not be damaged when secured with vicegrips.

Having someone apply the brakes is a good idea. But I was working alone.

 

Yikes! 5 ft cheater pipe should have done it all right.....

Sometimes when working alone I need someone to hold the brake so I have a stick I can wedge between the seat and the pedal, does the trick....I also stick a cold chisel in one of the vents in the rotor and butt it against the caliper to hold the axle - I've never had one break but I imagine you can break one of the vanes this way so be careful.....

So, longer pipe then?

Know anyone with a 3/4 or 1" drive impact wrench you can borrow?