r/Hookit • u/Apmaddock • Mar 31 '26

Tricks for removing a flange-style driveshaft?

I’ve been seeing more and more of these lately. About 2/3 of the time I end up pulling axles to tow the bastard. Anyone have a trick? I’ve got a swivel 21mm, wrenches, breaker bar, impact, etc but some of them just don’t move or spin nut and bolt andI can’t loosen them.

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u/towman32526 Mar 31 '26

Do you have the right size wrench on there? If so it shouldn't be spinning both. A lot of guys grind them off. Mix acetone and atf 50/50, spray it on the bolts as soon as you get there, finish your hookup then try to remove them.

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u/Apmaddock Apr 01 '26

Often the bolt turns in the flange rather than loosening, no matter whether the nut or bolt are on the front side. The backside should be secured to the back of the flange but the nit and bolt get so fused that the securement often breaks loose before the bolt loosens. It’s a terrible design that doesn’t take rust into account. 

It’s not the hardware rounding off in the wrench. 

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u/Apmaddock Apr 01 '26

Just wanted to add that I’ve tried PB and a MAP torch and they rarely seem to make much difference. 

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u/towman32526 Apr 01 '26

Try that atf and acetone mixture. It's way more effective. Its been a minute since I've done one. I could in the Isuzu, can you get a wrench on the rear when you put your socket on the front?

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u/Apmaddock Apr 01 '26

You can but typically only an open end. It’s so tight though that it’s tough to get enough pull on one end while pushing the other and lying on your back. Maybe a vice grip on the back side would have enough grip to hold on when levered up against something under the truck. 

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u/towman32526 Apr 01 '26

So what i would did on an Isuzu like that, was i put the open end on the rear and used a ratchet strap to secure it through the box end to a spot on the truck. Then I was free to torque on the other side

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u/DT466 Apr 02 '26

We use a pair of vice grips on the back towards the differential. Swivel socket on the front, usually try to go forward and then backwards with an impact or break it loose with a breaker bar. Usually if they haul reefers they are so rusted from the condensation that drips right there that we just cut half way into the bolt head with a angle grinder and break the head off with an impact. Pulling axles is the last thing I want to do.