BroncoII4x4.com

I have the sucky one. That lock nut absolutely did not want to come off and the socket was not helping matters. The harder you push down on the breaker bar, the more the top of the socket wants to come unseated. In effect, it is like you are pushing down on the back of the socket while you turn it ...

Sounds like you got it figured out, but when I did it, I just used two flat head screwdrivers. I held them both with one hand (one on each side) and hit them with the palm of my other hand. Worked just fine

Aha! I see what you mean now. I didn't realize you meant to support it by the stub shaft in that pic. That was the detail I was missing, which obviously makes a big difference. Thanks for the suggestion!

To remove the u-joints, place the axle in a vise as pictured. Note you are not clamping it, just using the vise for support. Hammer it the spot shown to avoid damaging the ears of the shaft. This works on the most stubborn axles you can find. http://www.broncoii4x4.com/bb/u-joint.jpg So I need to ...

Nobody, thanks for the suggestion on the brass drift. I've avoided hitting that part of the spindle for fear of denting it. Not sure why it didn't occur to me to use something softer to take the brunt of the impact. I don't have a brass drift, so before I go buy one I may try wood. It may work or it ...

Thanks. I might try that sometime. I've got the right side apart right now, but I still can't get the spindle off of the left. I gave up last night on both and this morning I went and bought a bigger hammer and a punch and chisel set. I had been using a big screwdriver and a small hammer. I also ...

Okay...so I got the nuts off. My jackstand brainstorm worked. I supported the passenger side with the jack and moved the jackstand to the outside to support the socket. It almost looked like I was supporting the passenger side with the socket, but of course the weight was on the jack. The jackstand ...

Here's what I found online for diagrams: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/diagrams/d28.gif http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/diagrams/as1.GIF http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/diagrams/as2.GIF http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/diagrams/lockinghub.GIF

One more pic:

Of course, I have the sucky socket. I wasn't aware that there were two kinds, but I went to O'Rielly's and Autozone and they both had the same kind. I was looking for loaners but Autozone's loaner was a 6 prong tool and O'Rielly's didn't have any at all to borrow. Craig, that's the first I've heard ...

I am replacing all three front u-joints, along with bearings and seals as necessary. I haven't made it too far into the disassembly yet: I have the outer hub and the caliper off as well as the c-clip and thrust bearing/spacers/etc. The nut that requires the special socket is where I'm stuck. I can't ...