Breaking an axle nut loose with a trolley jack

Рет қаралды 73,897

8 жыл бұрын

A short video of my first axle nut removal. This is on a Northeast-driven 2000 Honda CR-V. The reason for axle nut removal is that the driver side CV axle shaft snapped in the middle.
The axle nut was unstaked. It was also pre-treated with a 50/50 acetone/ATF (automatic transmission fluid) mixture overnight. The car is on the ground, obviously. I would NEVER try this with the car up on jack stands. The tools used were:
- 3/4-inch drive breaker bar from Harbor Freight
- 3/4-inch drive 36mm impact socket from Harbor Freight
- Torin 3 ton SUV trolley jack
I had a 4-foot cheater pipe on standby, in case this didn't work, but there was no drama. The jack is an almost irresistible force when used like this.
Use the right tools. The jack makes it look easy, but there are enormous forces involved. The factory torque spec on the axle nut is 181 ft-lbs. I would not try this with my 1/2-inch drive breaker bar; the 3/4-inch breaker bar is much more stout.
UPDATE: Another video demo'ing the same method is at • Axle nut with trolley ...
* Disclaimer: This video chronicles my experience only. It is not an instructional video. I am not responsible for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Information given in this video does not guarantee the desired outcome. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of the tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the viewer of this video.

Пікірлер: 123

@jeremyvoss1660 7 жыл бұрын

I struggled with this one for 2 hours then decided to you tube how to break Axel nut loose. This worked amazingly. You're a great man.

@morrisl7 6 жыл бұрын

After 6 hours of pain, banging, prying and strife i went to home depot and bought an electric impact wrench. It took 3 seconds to remove the axle nut I had worked the whole day on.

@justmyopinion8395 2 ай бұрын

Can you return it afterwards? Asking for a friend.

@victorbremer8097 2 ай бұрын

@@justmyopinion8395no brokie

@stxddy 23 күн бұрын

What was the feet pounds of torque it needed lmao

@victorbremer8097 22 күн бұрын

@@stxddy1200 lbs

@Jonesee53 7 жыл бұрын

This works great ! I noticed the long bar started to bow as i pumped up the jack so i firmly hit the socket with a small sledge hammer and it released the stubborn nut.

@Kermit_Savage 7 жыл бұрын

My dear god 😧 your a genius, I've been busting my butt trying to remove a difficult lug nut on my vehicle with the breaker bar, why didn't I ever think of this 🤦🏻‍♂️ smh

@thebudgettrackjunkie 4 жыл бұрын

This is so smart! I wish I had seen this sooner

@robbiethebassist 7 жыл бұрын

Amazing, thanks so much! I watched so many videos on how to get the nut off my Acura Integra, and finally this method worked. *standing ovation"

@theadmiral460 6 жыл бұрын

having same issue on Acura Legend...all this just to change ball joints smh

@mr.nobody9630 7 жыл бұрын

That's some out the box thinking there. Super neat no need to struggle.

@druethe 7 жыл бұрын

I would normally end up taking mine down the road to get a shop to break it loose for me, but this worked effortlessly...big kudos.

@crumplezone1 7 жыл бұрын

Wish I knew this 30 years ago, that fucking axel nut on a Austin Allegro still gives me nightmares ! :)

@mattka5354 7 жыл бұрын

Genius! You deserve an applause.

@brownghost18 5 жыл бұрын

When I was trying to take mine off without power tools I watched several vids of just driving the car with breaker bar on it, I didn't want to scratch my garage floor or possibly messing up nut if bar came off slightly so I decided to the exact same thing that you did in this vid, to my amazement it worked like a charm and I was able to get job done!

@JeanEstel 3 жыл бұрын

lol I have a bmw f10 which uses a hex bolt, I tried to do that same trick and the car literally just turned. Instead of going straight once it was too much it started to just turn the wheel.

@mckaylasdaddy51 5 жыл бұрын

This has changed my life

@KindCreature1 3 жыл бұрын

That's working smarter, not harder! Great idea!! Mike

@tonyburton8971 5 жыл бұрын

I used this a while back to undo a caliper holder bolt. I used the wind up type of jack that time as no room for a trolley jack. I faced the same issue yesterday with the driveshaft bolt and thought I'd google to see if anyone else had used a jack which is how I found this video. I successfully followed the same procedure, but I'd advise anyone doing this to take the following precautions. 1) Ensure you know exactly where your strength fails and the jack takes over - i.e. as you elevate the jack, try to lift the wrench higher manually - when you can no longer lift the jack, you know the torque acting on the nut is now beyond your strength. 2) Once you've reached the human limit, take it VERY carefully - pump up the jack 1cm at a time (MAX) and watch the bar which will bend - a slight bend is ok, but if the nut doesn't move within the next 3cm, I'd advise releasing the pressure, adding some heat and trying again. Another method I've heard of is tapping the bolt head with a hammer while under pressure. In my case, on one side I could break the bolt out with my own strength and a 1m bar. On the other, it took me several goes with the jack, heat and a hammer, before finally the bolt came loose.

@jonm8962 3 жыл бұрын

Your video just help me out a lot thank you so much

@Pwillig 6 жыл бұрын

I just thought about doing this today. Glad to see i wasn't the only one.

@LolLol-gt9vw 7 жыл бұрын

Imagine if the jack partially lifted up the car. Rip.

@geeesp42 7 жыл бұрын

trying this tomorrow hopefully it won't

@tbaker184 5 жыл бұрын

Lmao 😂

@Wannes0805 5 жыл бұрын

Tried this and I was actually lifting it a bit untill the wheel started to turn :'(

@isaiahgallardo6974 4 жыл бұрын

I did this yesterday with my Jack and I put the brake hold and electric parking brake both on and stuck a screwdriver in there, the shit was on so tight it began to bend the screw driver and resist the brakes and snapped the breaker bar

@jsdzx 3 жыл бұрын

r laze , I put some heavy bath towels with a heavy hammer on top of it just in case.

@mariomoctezuma8071 2 жыл бұрын

OMG!!!, at last, I did it! thank you sir

@SadbutTrue84 5 жыл бұрын

Genius! HAHAAAA!😂! Was bout to have a nervous breakdown trying to figure out how I was gonna get these things off without a impact! SWEET!😎👍👍👍👍👍!

@tleaquick4970 6 жыл бұрын

Once again a video I looked up (after hubby told me he knew what he was doing) helped hubby. Thank you:)

@Medea007 4 жыл бұрын

Hubby from the hub?

@fmltommy897 6 жыл бұрын

broke 3 breaker bars sigh

@UnjustifiedRecs Ай бұрын

I've broken 2, on my third right now 😂

@harryfillpot666 3 жыл бұрын

Nominating you for the nobel science prize

@pipechat9206 7 жыл бұрын

My good man your sir are a genius!

@djmystery7235 7 жыл бұрын

Just what I said

@justmyopinion8395 2 ай бұрын

A tip is to have someone hit the breaker bar and socket in with a sledge hammer while your applying downward force on the breaker bar that is attached to a cheater bar.

@twig614sm 7 жыл бұрын

omg I would of never thought of doing that hats off too that man

@theonlybucko 5 жыл бұрын

I've broken 3 breaker bars trying to get mine off, one was snap on and after I heated it

@ericspinfisher3010 2 жыл бұрын

Really helped me out: cheers!

@polyboy080 7 жыл бұрын

Many thanks! Worked even on a warped nut.

@drchungj 7 жыл бұрын

Great to hear. Can you share what tools you used (1/2 in or 3/4 in breaker bar)?

@DiligentNow 3 жыл бұрын

I did it last week with my hands and it almost broke my back. Now i am seeing this and i am like - Could it have been that simple !!!!LOL. Thanks

@timguy161 Жыл бұрын

I found a left-over 1.5 inch diameter PVC pipe and used it as cheater bar. It is thick. Works well. Now I am using it every time I take off my tires. Painless now.

@michaeljosephrusso 6 жыл бұрын

That was brilliant. Seriously.

@kevinoverbeck4250 3 жыл бұрын

Thats a real good idea! You would have to be mindful to have it lined up just right or you could cross thread it.

@ambercoal3653 6 жыл бұрын

I LOVE YA!!!!!! YOU SAVE MY LIFE!!! THANKS FOR THE VIDEO

@mileswatkins6472 8 жыл бұрын

lmao this guy desrves a round. of applause. very very smart ! thank you !

@hiddenhybridttv 6 жыл бұрын

genius i was about ready to use torches and cut the damn thing off

@bassboosted_rdz2269 6 жыл бұрын

thank you so much for this!!!!

@canuckfixit7722 3 жыл бұрын

The right side cv axle will snap in half eventually too if it hasn't already. Rust builds up under the center harmonic balancer. This affects all CRVs and Elements plus other Hondas driven in the rust belt.

@drchungj 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I made sure to replace both sides. The shaft did snap at that balancer donut in the middle (kzfaq.info/get/bejne/p99kZtWf2crGaKc.html).

@mazambeliqbal3487 4 жыл бұрын

Guys I got a problem with my Toyota Yaris front driver side shaft axle nut won't open , we'll try heat gun next less see how it goes

@dagamer667 4 жыл бұрын

Yesterday, I went to pick’n’pull to pull a pair of hubs for my vehicle. Doing something like this was my very first idea when the nuts wouldn’t budge with me standing on a 25” breaker bar. Unfortunately picknpull doesn’t allow jacks in their yards. I suppose I could’ve snuck in a scissor jack, but damn! I was able to get a pair from another vehicle where the 35mm nut was easier to undo. Unfortunately, my entire back is seriously sore tonight from my efforts. Gonna postpone the installation on my car by a couple days to recover, and definitely use either a jack or a cheater pipe when it’s time to do the job!

@alexhatcher8812 3 жыл бұрын

plenty of scissor jacks in back of wreck cars.

@Youtubeforcedmetochangemyname 5 жыл бұрын

What do ypu do when that doesn't work I tried and no luck

@Mike-nf6nf 2 жыл бұрын

I'm going to try this today on my 1998 Civic (in the year 2021!) I don't think it's ever been removed and I simply can not get it to budge (I removed the axle nut's center stake first and drenched it with PB Blaster over days and hours.) I'll take it to a shop to loosen it if this trick doesn't work. Thanks! VERY clever technique!!

@akordaddikt1812 2 жыл бұрын

How did it work out im about to attempt it on my 2000 civic tomorrow

@jamesmcgahee956 6 жыл бұрын

Ok i replaced my axel, the boot and the thing that has the bolts that holds the tire on and they put the nut back on. I drove my car for about 2 weeks and my breaks started squeeking and scraping real bad. We tool the wheel off and the whole rotor shakes up and down and back and forth..... PLEASE SOME1 TELL ME THAT THE PROBLEMBIS JUST THE 34MM NUT IS LOOSE AND THAT'S IT

@robertoastephensjr7263 7 жыл бұрын

Sweet method, sweet method.

@volkanazman1767 3 жыл бұрын

That's really good idea

@jcagam3811 6 жыл бұрын

Darn. You are God's gift to shade tree's.

@Historymaker431 Жыл бұрын

I did use this method on one side before I saw your video, but the other side would not work, broke three breaker bars

@brianmac1 Жыл бұрын

Wow, what a great idea. I'll never struggle with these again. A good idea to use 3/4 drive for these nuts too. Thanks for the great tip.

@davidmakowka922 Жыл бұрын

Good idea. Tried and broke my braker bar

@paulross7204 6 жыл бұрын

Will use on a calliper nut tomorrow. Smiley face.

@davidgruen7423 5 жыл бұрын

Lol that’s exactly what I did one time when I had to rotate tires, Sears obviously impacted my lug bolt(Volkswagen use Lug bolt) and the 1 foot long factory wrench can’t break anything loose despite I had a 300 pound guy stomping on it, was trying to find a long pipe but there was nothing at hand, so I was packing my stuff and try to give up on that, and hey wait a minute, the jack can pull 1 ton of vehicle up why don’t we use it to pull the handle?!?! Lol, that 1 foot breaker bar was a pain in the behind to use but it did broke every single bolt without breaking, I really do wish car company could give out this neat little tip just in case firestone and sears mess the wheel torque up.

@amritpalsaini3046 3 жыл бұрын

Very smart.👍

@CenterTree777 4 жыл бұрын

then, suddenly at 0:55..... SNAP!!!!!! That's what I heard on my Honda Crv. Craftsman breaker bar and socket in TWO pieces....LOL!!

@blinkzane2023 6 жыл бұрын

This is fucking phenomenal, I just spent 3 hours doing everything possible without driving the car on the breaker bar and this is fucking perfect. I will be back to let you know how it goes for me

@craigd8624 5 жыл бұрын

It's been a year. I'm guessing it didn't 😂

@diegojdm4163 5 жыл бұрын

Craig D 🤣🤣

@mariomoctezuma8071 2 жыл бұрын

4 years now...

@CarnifexMods 2 жыл бұрын

Don’t use heat unless you want to dry out wheel bearings.

@Peppermint1 7 жыл бұрын

Smart, but if the nut got loosen with only hand pumps it means it wasn't really tight. Still putting 800lb on a 2ft bar should be pretty convincing for most axle nuts. While there, I can't but wonder about this nut design. Volvo, and perhaps other brands, simply use a 14mm bolt that is easy to tighten and to remove. What is the reason for these huge 36mm nuts that are extremely tight?

@drchungj 7 жыл бұрын

Maybe the jack that I have is also a factor. It's a trolley jack, but it's rated at 3 tons. Of the 3 times I've used it like this for axle nuts, only hand pumps were needed to crack the nuts. Or maybe I don't know my own strength.

@Peppermint1 7 жыл бұрын

Or maybe a combination of the two ;) Saying this because on my 2t one even to rise it free it's somehow hard to pump it down without the extension.

@alexreyes6811 6 жыл бұрын

Was thinking about this before I saw the video while scrolling, thank god there’s a video for proof that it’s done

@wkevin22 2 жыл бұрын

I have done this very thing

@morrisl7 6 жыл бұрын

Will this work safely with a typical car jack (the one all cars come with spare tire kit)?

@drchungj 6 жыл бұрын

I'm going to say that it will not work safely with a typical scissors jack that comes with all cars. A scissors jack doesn't have that wide saddle that a floor jack does, so it wouldn't be able to support the end of the breaker bar. Also, the scissors jack is simply not as strong as a floor jack. Finally, raising a scissors jack with the cork screw mechanism would not be very stable; there would be a lot more movement of the jack than with a floor jack.

@Secretarian 5 жыл бұрын

Awesome

@jeremyokgo 7 жыл бұрын

This shit works. So glad this isn't my day job.

@deducken 2 жыл бұрын

What.. 1/2 is bigger and sturdier than 3/8? 🤔 Why use 3/8? Am I missing something?

@drchungj 2 жыл бұрын

Not 3/8, but 3/4-inch.

@deducken 2 жыл бұрын

@@drchungj Oh 😅 My bad

@jtv3935 2 жыл бұрын

genius

@OnePunchMan781 3 жыл бұрын

Wished I watched this sooner, went to buy a Milwaukee impact wrench 1400 ft lbs of torgue for $349.

@ccsluf 3 жыл бұрын

The nut was already loose before filming, wasn't it. (I didn't see/hear the "pop" there had to have been when it actually broke loose!)

@JChung-zz7xe 3 жыл бұрын

00:00:55 - Very faint, but there was a point at which the axle nut gave. On another car I used the jack on, there was a louder "click" at kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Y9qEeNmFl7W7iWg.html

@ccsluf 3 жыл бұрын

@@JChung-zz7xe Didn't hear the "click" on that one either. I'm not questioning the legitimacy of the method. I used it myself 3 years ago. Here is what mine sounded like: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mbRziM1ytbrXc40.html @1:22 - It would have been even more clear if I had been pumping the jack more slowly.

@Mike-nf6nf 2 жыл бұрын

@@ccsluf Thanks for showing how to force the breaker bar handle into the jack stand!

@ccsluf 2 жыл бұрын

@@Mike-nf6nf Yeah, it didn't occur to me at first that the breaker bar handle is just going to slip out as you raise the jack, so I had to use my head ... figuratively!

@Mike-nf6nf 2 жыл бұрын

@@ccsluf Update: I got the axle nut removed with a breaker bar and 32mm socket with the car on all 4 tires like normal. It was surprisingly easy, although I had been hitting it with PB Blaster over multiple days. There was barely any rust in the nut and axle end, but maybe I removed it with all the PB Blaster. I'll try the hydraulic jack trick if the other three axle nuts give me trouble in the future!

@holdmybleach2651 5 жыл бұрын

Been fucking about with hub nuts on my mg zt all morning. Wish I'd seen this before I gave up and went to the pub.

@honchoryanc 7 жыл бұрын

Damn now I feel stupid lmao

@nelsonarias4560 6 жыл бұрын

I tried this last night and it just rotated the wheel even with someone holding the brakes.

@drchungj 6 жыл бұрын

Sounds like it's really, really stuck. Did you try a chock in front of the wheel to prevent it from rotating?

@ajkemer 7 жыл бұрын

is it possible off the ground?

@drchungj 7 жыл бұрын

I would not try this with the car off the ground. This method depends on the lifting force of the jack, and if your car is on jack stands, this could lift a corner of the car off a jack stand; not a good thing. If you're off the ground, the traditional long cheater bar approach is called for. See kzfaq.info/get/bejne/a66mjMtqs6nRlp8.html.

@ajkemer 7 жыл бұрын

tried to do it on my side by side but it just lifted the whole thing up and the axle nut stays on

@drchungj 7 жыл бұрын

I assume the axle nut was unstaked and penetrating oil was applied. You could also try putting a 3-4 foot cheater pipe over the breaker bar and jacking up the cheater pipe end for more rotational force.

@ajkemer 7 жыл бұрын

+FixPraySing yeah tried wd40 and it is ustacked

@ajkemer 7 жыл бұрын

+Maryland Lawncare & Reviews staked*

@99quintinsnapshot 7 жыл бұрын

Maryland Lawncare & Reviews > You are no doubt an idiot ... moron!

@ajkemer 7 жыл бұрын

g guinn no need to be a jerk everyone learne stuff some how

@thatguybrian9781 6 жыл бұрын

You fucking genius

@jacobjche 3 жыл бұрын

Lol. Genius. Freakin hell.

@alisonf9006 6 жыл бұрын

impact... DUH

@hoaquy9818 3 жыл бұрын

When someone loves you, the way they talk about you is different. You feel safe and comfortable.

@mmlindsey8635 5 жыл бұрын

I LIKE THAT'S..U USING YOUR HEAD

@95dmike 5 жыл бұрын

this is only for if your not strong enough or you dont have a impacter this isnt gonna do shit if its siezed besides break your ratchet

@jsdzx 3 жыл бұрын

Goddamn genius gump! I was ready to go buy a torch earlier the previous day. Now, It’s 2am just watch some sweet porn and rubbed one off. I say hey, let me look to see if there are any other methods You are a life saver bro. Thanks!!!!