HELP!! Broke a bolt lifting the explorer...

predator · Sep 17, 2009

so i was trying to install some lift coils in my explorer the other day and i twisted off the nut/stud that comes up through the axle through the bottom of the coil spring, i got replacements from ford but my question is how much of the axle do i have to take apart to replace that stud?? do i have to pull the axleshafts? where do i start and any tips on what NOT to do? thanks for the help!

Downey · Sep 17, 2009

so you broke the bolt that holds the radius arms on and the bottom of the coil?

predator · Sep 17, 2009

yup, that would be the one...i even soaked all the bolts in pb blaster for a week before i even started on the project ( i live in the rust belt, i buy pb blaster in bulk) so that i wouldnt have this problem...oh well im here now and i have to get it back on the road again...

Downey · Sep 17, 2009

you can buy them right from ford

Sasquatch_Ryda · Sep 17, 2009

The axle shaft has to come out, then you will need to heat it up to break the loctight. The you will need to go in through the end of the axle beam to back the bolt out.

predator · Sep 17, 2009

did you read my first post?? I HAVE THE REPLACEMENTS, my question was, how far do i have to take the axle apart to replace the bolts? i have done damn near everything automotive but i have never torn into a ttb system before, do i just pull the hubs and axleshafts and boom im done? or is there more to it??

edit-ah, thanks sasquatch, do the axleshafts just slide out or are they held in somehow? i dont need to get into the pumpkin do i??

4x4junkie · Sep 17, 2009

The axles will slide right out (well, the driverside shaft anyway... the passengerside shaft can still be separated at the axle slip-joint though)

predator · Sep 17, 2009

4x4junkie said:
The axles will slide right out (well, the driverside shaft anyway... the passengerside shaft can still be separated at the axle slip-joint though)

cool, thanks for the help guys, i will post pics when i get the lift and paint job done...i really have transformed the explorer :icon_welder:

predator · Sep 18, 2009

how do i seperate the passenger side axleshaft? i broke the stud on that side so i have to do this one first, anyways, i have the boot out of the way, but for the life of me i can not get the axle to seperate...how is this usually done? i do believe that this is the first time it is being done on this vehicle....

Boggin · Sep 18, 2009

i just beat mine with a hammer pretty lightly for a bit then it slid out

predator · Sep 18, 2009

Boggin-B-Series said:
i just beat mine with a hammer pretty lightly for a bit then it slid out

i have been rapping on it with the one pound ball peen quite a bit and it hasnt even budged at all.....it is in there SOLID, i even had the heat gun on it and sprayed with pb blaster for the past 2 days...do i dare take the torch to it??? :icon_welder:

i mean to heat it up, not cut it...just in case anyone was wondering :icon_thumby:

Sasquatch_Ryda · Sep 18, 2009

Sounds like the spline is seized to itself. It should slip in and out freely. Heating it up will help, not too much heat tho.

Will · Sep 19, 2009

I'd be looking for another axle beam. Getting that stud out is going to be impossible if you'be managed to bust the hex part off. That is a rusty some-bich. If you use 4wd it's going to bust something and you'll blame the TTB. Both sides need to come apart and it needs service from hub to hub.

Will · Sep 19, 2009

Also, is the spindle off that side? Do you have a book of some type?

predator · Sep 20, 2009

Will said:
I'd be looking for another axle beam. Getting that stud out is going to be impossible if you'be managed to bust the hex part off. That is a rusty some-bich. If you use 4wd it's going to bust something and you'll blame the TTB. Both sides need to come apart and it needs service from hub to hub.

i live in the rust belt, all the axle beams will be like this, i have a torch and i have cut bigger nastier shit than this, it is just a grade 8 stud, now that i got the axleshafts pulled it will be easier, but the bottom studs are rusted solid, gotta find a way to precisely torch the bottom studs and replace them, lenthen the radius arms as well.

that and you cant just buy an axle beam from a junkyard up here, they will make you take the whole thing, and yards up here charge 450 bucks for a 7.5 with 3.45's, 800 for a 8.8 with discs, 500 for a complete d35 setup...it was 20 bucks for the replacement stud, not really much of a decision needed to be made there :icon_confused:

i have a haynes,chilton and shop manuel for every vehicle i have ever owned or worked on....having a place of reference in the shop is just as important as the big red roll-around, air compresser, welder and torch...

HELP!! Broke a bolt lifting the explorer...

predator

15+ Year Member

Downey

15+ Year Member

predator

15+ Year Member

Downey

15+ Year Member

Sasquatch_Ryda

TRS Staff - Retired

predator

15+ Year Member

4x4junkie

Forum Staff Member

predator

15+ Year Member

predator

15+ Year Member

Boggin

15+ Year Member

predator

15+ Year Member

Sasquatch_Ryda

TRS Staff - Retired

Will

Forum Staff Member

Will

Forum Staff Member

predator

15+ Year Member

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