Removing CV without damage

[ctyoter]

I’m hesitant to smash the end of my CV axle with a hammer to push it through the hub as I am going to rebuild it when it comes out but it’s kinda sorta stuck there. I rented a puller of sorts from the auto parts shop (has three holes on one side and one on the other) but it sits on the flange of the hub instead of the face of the rotor so has no threads on the wheel studs to grab. Even if I pulled the rotor off it looks like this tool would only sit down about a 1/4 inch more before bottoming out.

So anyone have a puller they used on their 4r that worked well. Seems that if I can get good purchase on the wheel studs and a stout center threaded pin, would be a breeze to push through with no impact but I can’t find a tool that would work around that center flange.

 

[ctyoter]

Well, since you asked, here's how I did it... I returned the original puller to the shop (pic 1) and looked through their loaner tools and found a 7-ton puller that looked like it would wrap around my brake rotors (pic 2). My idea was to lock the rotor to the hub with the lugnuts and then lock the puller to the rotor and push the axle through the hub using the rotor as the fixed object. I was worried about bending the rotor as I was wailing on a 1/2" breaker bar as well as holding the wheel from spinning using a long steel rod but it looks fine. And ultimately, it worked. There was a satisfying POP! (or CRUNCH!) and the unmistakable feeling of progress, or winning, or whatever. Then it was time to get dinner ready so that's that. I wish I'd made a video because the vast majority of them are using hammers, jack hammers, or just not showing the outer axle removal at all if it's not already so loose it just falls out.

Only things I'd note is to maybe put something on the end of the axle since this tool will grind it in the process of spinning under a lot of load. And maybe wrap a towel around the whole deal after you've spied that everything is lined up and ready for torqueing since there's always the possibility of something breaking or slipping and something come flyin' off.

Now on to the inner ends...

 

[rdruss]

Haven't had to do mine yet, but youtubes I've watched, they usually use a brass punch, something softer than the axle shaft, to use in conjunction with hammer (big hammer). But thanks for your post.