"Stuck" axle nut giving me trouble

[MrMazda92]

I've gotten most of the suspension yanked from my '92, but am stuck on the front passenger corner currently.
Nothing I have done will free the axle nut from the axle, and I am running out of time to get this done before I have to pull the engine.

So far I knocked the bent portion of the nut free from the slot in the axle, so it *should* spin freely with properly applied torque. No such luck

I used a 24" breaker bar with a 4 foot cheater pipe attached, and only managed to lift the car off of the jackstands.
My impact gun was of no use, and I am debating two options right now:
- Grind the nut on 2 opposing sides and torque it until it snaps and falls off(to spare the threads on the axle)
- Remove the balljoint and tie-rod end, and then pull the axle with the hub still attached

Am I missing another obvious method to remove this?

The car is not currently running, so using the engine to free it is a no-go.

[Daninski]

Use a dremel tool and cut the nut. I had trouble with that side as well. 3/4 drive bar with 5' pipe with 260lb+ fat bastard bouncing on the end and no luck. A torch may help cutting is sure fire.

[MrMazda92]

Argh, I was hoping to avoid that.

That's a pretty graphic image you just put in my head Dan, thank you for that!
I don't have a torch at the house right now unfortunately, but I'll cut the damn thing off tomorrow.

How easy is it to damage the threads on the axle itself? I am thinking I should cut most of the way through the nut and then whack it with a hammer and chisel. The axle is less than a year old, and the boots are undamaged, so it should have some life left in it!

[mitmaks]

Heat and impact gun. Maybe rent a bigger impact gun. I have 230ft/lb one but recently bough 580 ft/lb Craftsman for future.

[Redline322]

I had the same problem, pulled the spindle, axle and all and took it to a shop that had some good torches before I got my own. They put it in a vice, heated it up and off it came with one shot from the impact gun.

[MrMazda92]

Hmm, I keep forgetting I bought a new impact gun as well... I have been using one that I borrowed last year, and the guy who loaned it to me isn't returning my calls. Keep forgetting to break mine out and give it a shot.

I'll pick up a torch later this week too, I've been meaning to buy a few others tools and I may as well consolidate the shopping.

I'll give heat + impact a shot first you guys, then I'll do as Redline said if I am unsuccessful. Thank you for the tips!

[crazycanadian]

Hmm, I keep forgetting I bought a new impact gun as well... I have been using one that I borrowed last year, and the guy who loaned it to me isn't returning my calls. Keep forgetting to break mine out and give it a shot.

I'll pick up a torch later this week too, I've been meaning to buy a few others tools and I may as well consolidate the shopping.

I'll give heat + impact a shot first you guys, then I'll do as Redline said if I am unsuccessful. Thank you for the tips!

What are you using for an impact? air or electric??

[MrMazda92]

Air, but my own gun is more powerful than my friend's, I just never thought to even check.

[crazycanadian]

Air, but my own gun is more powerful than my friend's, I just never thought to even check.

What kind of tank set up are you using... I am asking because some air guns need a lot of air volume and psi to work at peek power... most home brew stuff isn't good enough... I have yet to meet an axle nut that I couldn't get loose with my 1/2" impact gun at work...

[mikeetown]

i had this problem with my 1991 mx3. I heated up the nut with a joe shmoe torch, then, i lit a camdle and melted candle wax all over it close up ti the nut. Then i put on an 8 foot pipe onto my best breaker bar and it moved like butter.

before that.........

used a half a can of move it for a day, had my 260lb fat a-- jump on the bar and raised the car off the rear jackstands almost hahahaha.

try it

[MrMazda92]

crazycanadian,

I'm using an embarrassingly small pancake compressor, as my "real" compressor caught on fire last year. I usually get 2-3 "shots" of 2 seconds with the impact gun before I need to let it refill already. I'm reppin' the super ghetto airtool setup here

mikeetown,
What did the candle wax add to the equation?? I haven't seen that as a recommendation before, but it's always interesting to learn something new!

[marcdh]

I think the theory is the melted wax enters the threads via capillary action, which sets itself up as a lubricant. It seemed to help me too.

[WhiteFinish]

I just used a big iron square bar, drilled some holes in it.
Attached to holes to my lugs, and got the nut off.

[MrMazda92]

Thank you marcdh, makes enough sense to me...

WhiteFinish,
Nice! I jammed a prybar against the ground, your method is way more refined, and I'd say safer haha. Prybar slipped and caught my left knee. ;(