i have a 97 too i got my 1 11/16 socket from a store called parts plus after no one else in town had just the socket and i had to spin it like twice and it fit nice and tight and i was able to get the job done

 

IF the nut is rusty and crusty, hit it with some chemicals.

I am a FIRM believer in better life thru chemistry.

 

yea i sprayed my down with pb blaster and i got the socket and breaker bar on and i had to stand on it a couple of times to get it to break free but it came off pretty easy the most time consuming part were the three bolts on the back side

 

tried the 1 11/16 again, spun it around a few times, even tried tapping on it with a hammer...nothing. I will use the 1 3/4 instead if I can't find a snap on man before sat...already tried losening the 3 12pt bolts behind, was able to do that, just making sure before i started kinda thing...hate to pay a shop to do something this simple is all.

i appreciate all the replies!

 

i used a 1 3/4 socket,just barely a little 2 big but got the job done, my driver bearing went out a month ago and now my passenger just went out, but when i did my driver wheel bearing i broke ratchets and breaker bars and had 2 use a big air drill to get it off and my passenger axle nut is giving me the same problem, is it supposed to be tha tight?

ps. used lots of pb blaster last time but still had to use the air drill

 

well a shop's going to charge you a half hours worth of labor for a 30 second job. all they'll do is put the right socket on there with a 3/4 impact and break it loose. supprised you can't get that 1 11/16 on that rascal.

 

I just did this saturday and I had to go buy a 6-point 1-11/16" socket
from sears. It didn't want to go on at first but then it finally went on.
My truck is a 1997 too.

Roy

 

I had to spin my 12 point 1 11/16" a few times to get it to slide on also, maybe you need to give that hammer a little more love to get it to go on. You did take the cotter pin out right?

 

if the 1-11/16 is not fitting on the nut, the nut is likely damaged with some burrs on the points of it (from being hammered with the wrong size socket). try to remove the burrs with a flat file.

 

filed the burrs and the 1 11/16 socket fit..used a 3/4 drive breaker bar with a truckers chain binder cheater bar and the nut loosened with reasonable force...not loose mind u, tight but needed 'taught' a lesson but came off, no need for air.
and i did indeed have the cotter pin out before i tried putting the socket on it.
again i appreciate all replies, thanks!