Help please Toyota/Lexus 2GRFE passenger CV axle seized

[Brybo86]

2007 Lexus es350 163k miles
I think I've exhausted all my ideas here.
I have beaten on this thing for the last 4 hours.
The bearing seals and metal are totally beaten of both sides of the bearing.

I've used a hammer and pry bar, with helper prying between bracket and axle trying to remove.
Also while prying using Air hammer into the bearing from behind
Tons of pb blaster.
I don't think I can get a wrench on the bracket nut that's under the axle.

What should I do next? Sawzall the shaft off?

Need help from the bitog masters
Thx guys.

 

[Number_35]

I'm trying to visualize what's happening here. Is the part that the shaft runs through a hanger bearing located immediately after the transmission?

Have you successfully pushed the splined end of the shaft out of the wheel hub?

 

[Brybo86]

I'm trying to visualize what's happening here. Is the part that the shaft runs through a hanger bearing located immediately after the transmission?

Have you successfully pushed the splined end of the shaft out of the wheel hub?

Yes the bearing is seized into the hanger/bracket
Yes outer shaft is out of the hub and totally removed.

 

[GSCJR]

At this point, you might as well take it out with the hanger bearing and swap the axle on the bench, if possible.

 

[Brybo86]

At this point, you might as well take it out with the hanger bearing and swap the axle on the bench, if possible.

I can get wrench, not a socket and breaker bar on this bolt , but not on the one under the axle.

 

[GSCJR]

I can get wrench, not a socket and breaker bar on this bolt , but not on the one under the axle. View attachment 277196

Ok, hard to tell from the pictures, some of these have a clip to secure the axle to the support; could be seized regardless. Looks like the clip is still there?

 

[Brybo86]

Ok, hard to tell from the pictures, some of these have a clip to secure the axle to the support; could be seized regardless. I think I see the clip?

Yes the clip is loose, removed.

 

[D60]

Ok, if removing the hanger is not an option, weld a big nut to shaft (clinebarger trick), then heat hanger with O/A and use 10# slide hammer to pull.

Yep, you'll need a welder, 10# slide hammer and torch. This is one reason shops get paid (no criticism for DIY)

 

[GSCJR]

Yes the clip is loose, removed.

My guess it's seized then? Last time I did one of these, it was on a Nissan, it's been a while since I've done the bearing support style. Maybe @The Critic, will see this thread. Good luck!

 

[Brybo86]

Possible I could get to the hidden bracket bolt with a
Ratcheting 14mm flex head wrench.

 

[D60]

Possible I could get to the hidden bracket bolt with a
Ratcheting 14mm flex head wrench.

That would absolutely be my approach first.

 

[JavierH19]

I bought a no name combination 14 and 15 mm long length ratcheting flex head wrench on Amazon for like 16 bucks for the belt tensioner on the Mitsubishi outlander sport and man was it worth it. It would have been impossible with a regular short 14 mm non ratcheting non flex head wrench and you can't get a socket on it either with barely an inch of space. I could have gotten a serpentine belt kit but this looked like a better option.

I think something like that would work great on this but you'd have to wait. I tried to look for something like that qt autozone, Lowe's, home depot, harbor freight and could not find like that. Maybe a snap on truck would have had it but they would have wanted like 50 bucks or something ridiculous.

 

[Brybo86]

That would absolutely be my approach first.

Watch the bolt back out and hit the axle before allowing the bracket to move ...

That happened on my Honda when removing the passenger CV axle. But at least I was able to beat that one out.

 

[Kurtatron]

I had a similar issue years ago on a 1MZ-FE. Passenger cv axle bearing seized to the carrier. I used a ten pound slide hammer, paid a 250lb guy to beat on it. It never budged. Ended up cutting with a Sawzall. I had to cut the axle on both sides of the housing.

Angle grinder might be better if you have one. Sawzall took me hours to cut through.

 

[Brybo86]

I had a similar issue years ago on a 1MZ-FE. Passenger cv axle bearing seized to the carrier. I used a ten pound slide hammer, paid a 250lb guy to beat on it. It never budged. Ended up cutting with a Sawzall. I had to cut the axle on both sides of the housing.

Angle grinder might be better if you have one. Sawzall took me hours to cut through.

I watched a youtube video where guy did that but did you have to remove the exhaust?
Theres like no room to swing a hammer with the exhaust in the way

And to think I was excited to do this job with my new 1750 ft lb DeWalt impact wrench, took the staked axle nut off in 2 seconds.

That's where the fun ended

 

[GSCJR]

Watch the bolt back out and hit the axle before allowing the bracket to move

I thought about that, but hopefully, you can squeeze it out.

 

[Brybo86]

I thought about that, but hopefully, you can squeeze it out.

Or maybe back it out as much as I can then cut it with a sawzall turn leftover bolt threads by hand or vice grips and get a new bolt.

 

[The Critic]

I use an air hammer with a blunt(ish) bit on the cage. Ideally, you need someone to simultaneously pry/put pressure on the axle while you run the air hammer.

100% success rate for me, but your success may vary.

 

[Brybo86]

I bought a no name combination 14 and 15 mm long length ratcheting flex head wrench on Amazon for like 16 bucks for the belt tensioner on the Mitsubishi outlander sport and man was it worth it. It would have been impossible with a regular short 14 mm non ratcheting non flex head wrench and you can't get a socket on it either with barely an inch of space. I could have gotten a serpentine belt kit but this looked like a better option.

I think something like that would work great on this but you'd have to wait. I tried to look for something like that qt autozone, Lowe's, home depot, harbor freight and could not find like that. Maybe a snap on truck would have had it but they would have wanted like 50 bucks or something ridiculous.

I just ordered the 14mm/15mm long flex head wrench from Amazon, should be here tomorrow morning

 

[The Critic]

If rattling the cage fails and you plan to replace the axle anyway, you can use a chisel tip on the bearing to drive the axle out.