Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hey all, long time no questions from me...

Trying to pull the rear diff centre out to make a locker.

Stuck on getting the axle shafts out - what do?

I've found the four bolts that I would have thought held the axle shaft in and removed the nuts off of them - now the brake assy just wobbles. No more free play in the axle itself.

What do I need to do?

Been a long time since I did it but I remeber it being easy as to get the axle out. Gotta pull the shoes n stuff off.... and then once the bolts are out from behind it all, it just sorta, comes out. Might need a bit of force. The drum backing plate thing comes off with it I think.

No worries - I might just get in there with the slide hammer...

Wanted to ask the question before I went gung ho!

No need to disassemble the brake shoes, ect. Pull the drum off, undo the 4 nuts you have already done, disconnect the brake hose. Put the drum on the wheel studs backwards, and just put the wheel nuts on a couple of threads, then use the drum as a slide hammer, or use a real slide hammer. You have to break a gasket seal between the back of the brake backing plate and the flange on the end of the axle housing.

Ended up making a T shaped bar to bolt onto three wheel studs and hold a slidehammer in the middle.

Pulled the passenger side off no worries - got the the drivers side and the bloody retainer flange seems like it's spot welded to the drum housing! So I've had to pull the whole brake housing out on the drivers side, I'll knock out the spot welds on the bench before I put it back together...although now I'm thinking instead of welding up the centre diff I'll just do fiddle brakes - all I'd need is to run a second brake line and a tee piece before my hydraulic handbrakes...

Anyone done this and had success (or otherwise?)