I've run into a problem disassembling a 72 Riviera 12 bolt main. I'm sandblasting the rear brake baking plates. I removed the four bolts that fasten the plate to the axel tube on the right side, opened thediff cover and removed the large double L clip that holds the bearing, and the right side axel came right out. However, on the left side using this same procedure, the axel is not coming out. Is there something I'm missing here? Bye the way I'm picking up my 72 chassis service manual at my shipping depot in Detroit tomorrow. Any help would be greatly appreciated. This rear end is a posi 3:42, by the way. Thanks, Clair McLean.
What is a L clip? That rear should have bolt in axles the four bolts are the only thing that hold the axles in the housing. You may just have a rusted bearing in the housing end. YOU will need to get a slide hammer or use the reverse brake drum slide hammer or a big chain sling.... You need to find a way to increaseyour torque to pull the axle out of the tube end.
Claire, Sounds like it's just stuck a bit. The trick Jim (monzaz) mentioned works like this: Install the brake drum in reverse over the wheel studs, so you're looking at the inside of the drum. Then install the lug nuts onto the five studs a short distance, but put them on in reverse too...in other words, the square shoulder of the lug nuts toward the axle flange. Make sure you've got the lug nuts on for four or five threads worth. What you now should have is a sloppy fit of the backwards brake drum that can act as a slide hammer. Push the drum in toward the axle flange, then sharply pull it out, bottoming on the reversed lug nuts. A few sharp slams, and the axle should pop out of the tube. Devon
Thank you gentleman, I followed Jim and Devon's instructions and out it came. I was worried because my access to the sandblaster is at my place of employment. I worked my last shift last Saturday. Officially this week is vacation. I have to go in to work for a final swipe in and swipe out on December 23rd. So I will be carrying in one last Buick part to be sand blasted on Chrysler's dime. I was an electrician at the mini-van plant in Windsor, Canada for the last twenty years. Thank you all again. Clair.
