Ever since I got my truck earlier this year, I've been dealing with parts that were hammered on. Working on the brakes, I had to use a 5 foot cheater pip[e to get the lug nuts off. 19 came off but were warped enough I had to replace them. Number 20 had to be cut off. I've been wanting to replace my ball joints. I finally got an impact socket to fit the Dana 44 axle nut. (43MM) No matter what I did, I could not get them loose. The drivers side didn't have a cotter pin as they got it so tight, the castling couldn't be lined up. 5 and 9 foot cheater pipes, both of my impact wrenches and bouncing on the pipes couldn't get it loose.

I found a shop that would break it loose for me. A 3/4 drive impact wrench wouldn't touch it. They dug out a 1 inch impact for heavy trucks and an adapter. Then another adapter when the first one shattered. At full pressure, it hammered for about 20 seconds before breaking the nut loose. I'm hoping the bearings and axles aren't damaged. There is NO reason to get them that tight. I'll climb down off my soap box now.

 

I've worked on the front ends of several vehicles from the midwest area. The rusted/frozen bolts and nuts encountered on those vehicles is enough to make a grown man cry!

 

Yea I work in maine and we get rusted stuff bad….I’ve BROKEN a 6 foot snap on breaker bar on a box truck lugnuts….that’s when the torch comes out and everything comes out pretty simple from there. I’ve had bolts so rusted and seized that there’s no head or anything to bite to. If your a mechanic you can still get the job done.

heat is your best friend

 

Rust isn't that much of a problem. I'm on the edge of the rust belt and while I don't deal with the oxidation like a little farther north, we get it around here. Wire brushes and wheels along with a torch takes care of that. These were just hammered on really tight. I really like my truck. It's fits my needs perfectly. If I had known I'd have this much trouble, I'd have had second thoughts.

 

1-11/16"

Sunex available on Amazon

 

 

Well, sorta, kinda, maybe close. It's an almost equivalent. My 1 11/16 socket fit, but had a little slop. The heavy duty impact 43MM fit like a glove. No slop at all. When you use a jack stand as a brace, a 9 foot section of driveshaft as a cheater pipe and you're jumping up and down on it, you don't want any slop.

I've got 2 new axle nuts as I don't trust the threads when something has been honked down like these were. I've talked to the PO a few times and told him what I've run into on this truck. It's all been done by the same shop, that he won't use again.

 

Ooh! I'm going to stea...um...borrow that.