Removing Mi16x4 Rear Axle, Any Ideas?

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

i have been stripping a mi16x4 over the last couple of days but have come unstuck with the rear axle.

 

is ther a simple way of dropping the whole assembly? i have only found 3 torx bolts each side which are rusted to f*ck and two have rounded off so i dont think they will be coming out.

 

other than that i would like to try and save at least the rear shafts and diff. are they removable with the hubs still attached? im thinking drop the diff and the shafts should have enough space to pull the shafts through the hubs??

 

the whole rear assembly is rusted up proper, my hands are shredded and my arms ache. and its giving me a right bo**ock ache

 

any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

Pete

[ade 4wd 11]

Hi Pete,

 

Yes you can remove the rear diff without removing the trailing arms. Remove the bolts holding the diff to the subframe and drop the diff down. Pull back the inner halfshaft boots on both sides of the diff. The half shaft will pull out of the cup on one side first then out the other side. Its a bit of a job as the diff is heavy. It will be a torsen diff and they are getting very rare. Both half shafts can then be removed by simply removing the R pin, clip and nut of the ends.

Is the propshaft support bearing ok, if it is be carefull not to damage it, they are no longer available as is most mi16x4 running gear.

[AlexN 7]

i have been stripping a mi16x4 over the last couple of days but have come unstuck with the rear axle.

 

is ther a simple way of dropping the whole assembly? i have only found 3 torx bolts each side which are rusted to f*ck and two have rounded off so i dont think they will be coming out.

 

other than that i would like to try and save at least the rear shafts and diff. are they removable with the hubs still attached? im thinking drop the diff and the shafts should have enough space to pull the shafts through the hubs??

 

the whole rear assembly is rusted up proper, my hands are shredded and my arms ache. and its giving me a right bo**ock ache

 

any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

Pete

The rear subframe is held on buy four bolts, two through the rear of the frame into the boot floor (there are rubber mounts that are bonded to the frame that can be pulled apart if you can't get the bolts out). The other mounting points on both rear corners of back passenger seats. If the interior is stripped you should be able to see where they are mounted from within the car. You can either remove the two bolts each side that hold the mounts to the car, or remove the single bolts through the mount that holds the subframe to it (this will make more sense if you have seen how it is held on!). The whole subframe should then drop out.

 

To remove the shafts you have to split the hubs, there are 4 bolts that hold the outer part of the hub to the inner, these can be accessed easily once the subframe has been removed. The hubs can be a real bast*rd to split though! Then the drive shafts will pull out from the rear diff. Then you can remove the diff and strip the rest of the rear beam. If the brake compensator is in good condition it is also worth keeping/selling as well.

[DrSarty 90 1 Cars]

Thanks for your excellent replies in helping Pete.

 

It's our car to break and I pity anyone trying to disassemble a 21 year old car and do it such that the parts are usable by another car enthusiast.

 

Well done Pete.

[wracing 19]

Pete are you scrapping the shell? if so just cut the lot out and then disassemble at least you can take it in the warm somewhere!!

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

cheers guys, i did drop the diff (after removing the rear half of the prop shaft ) and managed to lever the shafts out of the diff then out of the hubs.

 

the rest of it looked well and truly rusted tho so i'm glad i left it

 

 

and james yes i did consider this but given its closeness to the fuel tank i though i would give it a miss as i get a little carried away with the angle grinder

Edited March 12, 2010 by pugpete1108

[Baz 421]

Bit of a PITA and fidly, but not that difficult. I remember getting the shafts out without splitting them too, very fiddly but can be done, only once the diff was free from the subframe/carrier though!

[AlexN 7]

cheers guys, i did drop the diff (after removing the rear half of the prop shaft ) and managed to lever the shafts out of the diff then out of the hubs.

 

the rest of it looked well and truly rusted tho so i'm glad i left it

 

 

and james yes i did consider this but given its closeness to the fuel tank i though i would give it a miss as i get a little carried away with the angle grinder

Nice. I can see why you wanted not to mess around that is some serious rust under there! You should also recover the ride height sensor as there should be some interest selling it, and it looks to be in OK condition. If you can get the rest of the hydraulic system off (the pump etc) then you might be able to sell these parts as well. I managed to sell all my rear suspension parts in the end.

 

I am glad I am getting rid of that rear suspension set up on my build.

[welshpug 1,666]

that's not serious rust, its all surface!!

[AlexN 7]

that's not serious rust, its all surface!!

Yeah true, but enough to make getting stuff undone a sod. Also a lot more than both the Mi16x4's I have stripped, and they were bad enough!

[KRISKARRERA 2 1 Cars]

Makes the bottom of my car look new!

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

oh well surface rust of not its gone now.