Trick for removing stuck differential center pin

[nitrosport_5]

My 92 k1500 has needed new rear wheel seals for a while now, but when i tried to remove the axles the center pin on the differential would not come out. I removed the small keeper bolt and no matter what i did the pin would not move. I am guessing that with 270k miles it has wore a groove in the pin.

So is there a trick for getting it apart?

[mongocanfly]

have you tried lightly tapping it with a hammer and punch to see if itll move? .....careful not to knock it to far ...

[nitrosport_5]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

have you tried lightly tapping it with a hammer and punch to see if itll move? .....careful not to knock it to far ...

I tapped it pretty good with a hammer and it wont budge.

[mongocanfly]

part of the cross pin bolt isn't broke off in there is it?...

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

part of the cross pin bolt isn't broke off in there is it?...

Exactly, that bolt is about 3'' long. I've never seen a stuck cross pin if all the bolt is out. I've seen them tight, but not to where it won't tap out

[homemade87]

I have seen and had a cross pin welded itself to the spider gear . Had to cut it in half to get it out with a side grinder and cut off wheel . Hold the bolt/pin up to the carrier and see if it is long enough to go past the pin . If not the pin is broke off and keeping the pin from coming out . You can try a small magnet to see if it will follow it out . If it is wedged there is a special tool you can use to get it out . May fine some info on YouTube to see how its done .

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by nitrosport_5

My 92 k1500 has needed new rear wheel seals for a while now, but when i tried to remove the axles the center pin on the differential would not come out. I removed the small keeper bolt and no matter what i did the pin would not move. I am guessing that with 270k miles it has wore a groove in the pin.

So is there a trick for getting it apart?

When you removed the cross shaft retaining bolt, did it look something like this,



or did it look like the part on the right, just threads,



If so, the long part of the pin is still holding the cross shaft in. In that case you will need a kit like this to work to remove it,

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/y...hoC6noQAvD_BwE

[mattfranklin]

Wow. Great pictures, chevy_mike. I can see how a break like that would fool any of us. I'll be getting into mine in the next year or two.

[nitrosport_5]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

When you removed the cross shaft retaining bolt, did it look something like this,



or did it look like the part on the right, just threads,



If so, the long part of the pin is still holding the cross shaft in. In that case you will need a kit like this to work to remove it,

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/y...hoC6noQAvD_BwE

Definately wasnt that long, but had a little bit of the pin still attached to the threads. never would have guessed it was broke.