drive shaft removal assistance

[1980rustang]

hey i cant seem to losten the 4 bolts that attach the drive shaft to the rear end the bolts are 1/2 but i cant get them to losten for the life of me any suggestions? gotta get a custom shaft for my enigne swap

 

[MaximumRisk]

you can try heating the bolts up, or lots of penetrating oil letting it work overnight(s)

 

[1990_LX]

They aren't 1/2, they are 12mm and be sure you're using a 12 point socket and not a 6 pointer.

 

[1980rustang]

yup my 1/2 12 point fit on the bolt perfectly i couldnt find my 12 mm 12 point and thanks maximumrisk ill try it

 

[BKD]

you can try heating the bolts up, or lots of penetrating oil letting it work overnight(s)

x2

 

[cledusdtrucker]

i use a pipe on the end of the 12mm wrench!

 

[Kylejb2663]

^^+1 Use a HUGE breaker bar and you will get them off or use an air impact...You may break the bolts but I would just replace them if they are that bad anyways.

 

[1980rustang]

i had my quarter inch rachet on there with a pipe and it was soo tight i was moving the whole car so i had to put blocks behind the wheels but i still couldnt get it

 

[1980rustang]

also if anyone has a 4 lug 8.8 rear end that would sell it let me know my rear end is only a 7.5 and ik it will blow easily and it leaks :/

 

[Jays04mach1]

also if anyone has a 4 lug 8.8 rear end that would sell it let me know my rear end is only a 7.5 and ik it will blow easily and it leaks :/

I have a COMPLETE! 8.8 4 lug ready to go. Has a 28 spline track lock with 3.08's or 3.27's. Asking $400

 

[EHA Racing]

The bolts are a 12 point - 12mm. You will need a strong wrench with a pipe on it to get them loose. When you put them back in make sure you put red loctite on them or they will wiggle loose. Heat will help to burn the factory loctite but make sure you replace the seal. Also, use map gas or propane so you don't get it hot enough to compromise the strength of the parts or cause warpage.

 

[MaximumRisk]

The bolts are a 12 point - 12mm. You will need a strong wrench with a pipe on it to get them loose. When you put them back in make sure you put red loctite on them or they will wiggle loose. Heat will help to burn the factory loctite but make sure you replace the seal. Also, use map gas or propane so you don't get it hot enough to compromise the strength of the parts or cause warpage.

a friend of mine has a tool that uses conductivity/ electricity to heat up the bolt directly greatly minimizing damage to surrounding parts, its a great little tool, it only takes about 15 second to get a bolt cherry red. It looks something like this:

 

[sal jc]

are you turning them the right way?

anyway a 3/8 drive with a 3ft pipe on the end usually works

 

[1980rustang]

^lol im pretty sure i am i am going to the left

 

[stanginthe11s]

if you have a tool truck that runs around your area then ask them for the ford driveshaft socket, its a nice socket that is designed to get in on those bolts and use either an impact or 1/2 breaker bar. its made by sunex tools and all the tool guys can get it. the socket is only 25$ and money well spent. other than that torch away, since youre not going to be using that rear the heat doesnt matter.

 

[1980rustang]

^see my money is tight ik i eventually wanna get a new one i just cant afford one right now untill my refund check from my college comes in

 

[1990_LX]

Why don't you just cut the heads off and drop the rear ous while sliding the bolts out of the drive shaft? Just be sure not to cut into the drive shaft...

 

[1980rustang]

^why cant i cut into it i have to get a new one?

 

[Jays04mach1]

Heat the bolts with a propane or mapp gas torch, as mentioned earlier. Its the single most effective way to burn the factory locktite. A few minutes of heat and the bolts will turn right out. IF you were to cut the bolt heads, now your stuck trying to figure out how to get the still locktited bolts out of the flange, and IF you were to cut the driveshaft you would still have to heat the bolts to get them out of the flange.

 

[1980rustang]

^true