Getting the third member off

[HaloFan1]

i am having trouble getting the third member off of the axle. How exactly is it supposed to come off and what is needed to get it off? I have taken off all of the nuts that surround it and it still wont budge. If anyone has any helpful hints let me know. I plan on ordering some gears for it this week so im going to try to gut it before they get here. Thanks again

[WHITE_TRASH]

Front or rear?  Are the axles out?

[mudmaster]

If the axles are out a couple of hits with a deadblow hammer will loosen it up.

[HaloFan1]

yes the axles are out. so just smack the hell out of it? what about taking off that nut where the drive shaft connects? Does that need to come off as well? This would be a 81 toy front axle

[WHITE_TRASH]

Nope the nut stays with the 3rd.  Just get off to one side and kick it a few times.  It'll come loose. 

[Duffil]

the pinion nut/shaft flange shouldn't need to come off, just give 'er a few taps...sideways, like left to right, ya know?

[HaloFan1]

lead hammer,sledge? it prob doesnt matter. Im going to have some more questions about getting the ring and pinion out i know so ill keep you guys updated. I am trying to build the axle for another toyota. im planning on buying a 81-85 and just switching out the axles after I build this one. I was debating the SAS but It seems to  be to pricey for me. I figure I can find an older toy for dirt cheap. maybe even from the 300-900 dollar range. who knows im still in the thinkng stage. i just know i want to build up this axle

[WHITE_TRASH]

If you cant kick it apart then put a piece of wood on the side of the driveline flange and hit it with your hammer a few times.  Once the seal is broken it'll come right out.

[CTENG in KS]

I am sorry you are having trouble getting your third member off... 

Sorry bad humor...I beat the ever living out of mine w/ the rubber mallet...It'll let go.

[HaloFan1]

I got it off. Any suggestions on getting the axle housing cleaned out and the third. I was thinking of taking the 3rd to a mechanics shop that has a parts washer. smart or dumb idea? i know i couldnt take the housing to a parts washer. any suggestions would be appreciated. Im going to be trying to get the 3rd apart in my spare tiem this week. expect more questions from me this week. thanks again

[WHITE_TRASH]

Did the gears break or are you just replacing them with a lower ratio?  If they are in good shape Id just wipe the housing out with a rag and solvent and get a brush and a tub to pour more  solvent in to clean the 3rd.

[CTENG in KS]

I have never used a parts washer...I usually pull it all apart first...best way is to start with the bearing caps, keep all your parts together, mark the caps and the housing, you need to make sure you put it back together the exact same way it came apart.  After the caps are off the ring gear, bearings, race, backlash adjusters are all free.  Then you have to punch the notch out of the pinion nut.  If yu have an impact gun, this is where you use it, if not, I find a long ratchet positioned across the diameter of the pinion flange beaten on with a rubber mallet works quite well.  Once the pinoin nut is off the pinion along with its attached bearing will come out.  This leaves only the race left in the housing.  I usually use some purple stuff to clean it all out, then I like Rustoleum HammerTone for the outside.  You just need to clean it up best you can, the HammerTone will go right over rust and such, but better cleaning, longer lasting paint.  Wipe the inside down real well, try not to leave any metal shavings, junk, towel particles, etc inside.  Goes back together the way it came apart, the pinion bearing race will need to be changed if you are changing gears.  

[CTENG in KS]

Another thought, if you do the pinion nut first you can use the ring gear to help stabilize the flange so it doesn't spin on you, but it can be done either way.

[Duffil]

ive always tried to loosen the nut before pulling axles or anything...cept d/s, of course.

[HaloFan1]

Yeh Im wanting to re-gear it to 5.29. I plan on having someone re-gear it for me so I was just going to strip the 3rd all the way down for them and make sure its clean for them. I was thinking of taking it the parts washer first because it is pretty nasty the way it is now before I actually tried to strip it. I can probably clean the housing out my self. What kind of slovent do you guys suggest to clean out with housing?

[Anthony]

I can probably clean the housing out my self. What kind of solvent do you guys suggest to clean out with housing?

I used paint thinner and brake cleaner. and a stiff bristle brush.

[TrackVino]

My brother works for a Cat dealer, so I took my stuff to him on friday, we stuck them in the Hot Tank, then on Sunday, we just pulled them out and steam cleaned.

They looked like new metal 

[CTENG in KS]

My brother works for a Cat dealer, so I took my stuff to him on friday, we stuck them in the Hot Tank, then on Sunday, we just pulled them out and steam cleaned.

They looked like new metal 

You gotta go and be all fancy, huh?   

[HaloFan1]

Dumb to take the stuff to the pressure washer to spray out all the grease on the inside?

[WHITE_TRASH]

Ive done that before.  Its just fine as long as you make sure its very dry before you put everything back together.

[mudmaster]

 

[HaloFan1]

Im not going ot put anyting back in the housing today. im trying to get the 3rd cleaned out so i can get the gears out and the housing cleaned out so that i can get it painted. do you suggest cleaning out all of the old oil inside the housing? if so im going to spray it out tonight. im keeping the axle outside under my carport. any chance that it might get rust on the inside if i spray it out? same with the 3rd. i dont want to ruin anything

[WHITE_TRASH]

you wont hurt anything.  Just spray it all out and hose it with wd40 when your done.  It'll be fine till your ready to put it back together.

[UNBREAKABLE]

I agree...it'll be just fine out there