----- Original Message -----
From: amphihill
To: amphicar-lovers@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2004 9:34 AM
Subject: [amphicar-lovers] REMOVING AXLE HOUSING WITH AXLE
Hell-o from a newbe
I am having a problem doing the following: (from the manual)
REMOVING AXLE HOUSING WITH AXLE
Remove the buffer disc, and unscrew the six hexagon fastening bolts
from the axle housing flange, and draw the complete unit out of the
vehicle, see figure 5.
I have removed everything but the axle and housing from the vehicle
and It will not come out.
Other than heating the area.... Can anyone help me on this issue?
Thanks in advance
Mark Hill
Mark:
Mine were really tough to remove also. I found that the rear face of the flange
was "glued" to the face of the socket (the flange face is welded into the hull)
by some kind of sealant. A few whacks with a hammer on the edge of the flange
helped, and as soon as the flange came out an eighth of an inch, it was easy to
slide out the rest of the way. Try this first, and if it doesn't move, then try
this. Put a bottle jack under the swing arm (at the axle pivot) and pump it up
until it starts to take some of the vehicle weight. Don't lift too far, about a
half inch should put a lot of force onto the flange, enough to crack the seal
there. (There is a paper gasket between the flange faces.)
BTW, I was surprised to find that the flange holes didn't line up very well with
the threaded bolt holes. It wasn't grossly bad, but just sloppy enough to make
threading the bolts a very tricky operation. I finally got so mad trying to
rotate the six-hole flanges to a position that was "just good enough", that I
drilled out all my flange holes a little to make the bolts an easy fit.
Further, I was really glad I took the trouble to completely remove and clean
those axle bearings. The grease in there looked like 40-year old fudge. Also,
the inner and outer bronze sleeve bushings tend to wear on side only (the axle
only rotates a quarter-turn or so). If you have just a little bit of wear or
fretting, put a mark on the housing to show which is the old "up" side, and,
when you put the housing back in, rotate the housing so the mark is downward.
This will put the suspension load onto a new section of the bearing face.
Ed
El Cajon
67 Rust Guppy
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