Topic: can't get the shaft out

[jarboarder1]

Ok I just got an 85 axle a couple weeks ago and me and a buddy started to take everything apart so we could clean it and rebuild it. got everything stripped down and couldn't get the axle shaft on the long side out of the housing. the short side came out fine but the other will only slide out a max of an inch before it gets stuck. Im hoping the housing isn't bent, it looks Ok but havn't got a chance to really check it. When it stops it feels like it is getting hung up on the bell part of the housing(yes I have the flat parts lined up) I dont know how that part would have got messed up, but who knows who had it before me.
here are a couple pics

Any Ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated

[Tool Pimp]

can't get the shaft out 

  I love the thread name


















  sorry

[jarboarder1 [OP]]

got to add a little humor

[Tallchevy]

I changed the front seal on mine a few weeks ago & had the same problem. You just have to find the sweet spot. Line up the flats & wiggle the outer shaft   

[mudmaster]

I changed the front seal on mine a few weeks ago & had the same problem. You just have to find the sweet spot. Line up the flats & wiggle the outer shaft   

Yep, that's what I did

[jarboarder1 [OP]]

well then I guess I will just continue wiggling my shaft.   

But really I think Im passed that. I can not get it to slide out. I think I am going to get a rod and knock it out from the other side.

[BUBBA]

sounds like it's bent.It should slide out no problem.You can take a long rod and go in from the other side and knock it out.

[fordh8r]

Can you wipe off the grease from the birf and see if it isn't damaged (expanded) enough that it won't fit through the knuckle end?   

[Caboose]

I was taking my friends 5.29s off his hands the other day and had the same problem.  it took a lot of wiggling and someone twisting the other shaft to move the gears and make everything loose.  we got fed up with it and cut the dam axle housing with a sawzall.  after we did that then the freaking thing came right out.  but the problem was we didn't have the right angle on it.  let me guess its the long side on the axle right?  just keep trying.

[KELLEYALS]

DONT KNOCK IT OUT!!!! Thats always the wrong answer...... It should come right out if the flat sides are vertical... Clean it up and look for burrs, make a little love to it with a file and then wiggle it untill you find that "sweet spot"!!!!!

[jarboarder1 [OP]]

ok thanks for all the input,

...But its bent     

wiggled and pulled on it, one side of the birf came out but the other was still hung up on the bell housing. If it wasnt bent it would have come right out.
time to look for a new one.

[Brandon]

clean it up and make sure it is turned the right way, I've pulled a bunch of em - never had one that wouldn't come out