i need help - Diesel Forum

mitchranger1 · 11-07-2012, 10:29 PM

hi guys i need alil help i have a 07 f350 crewcab short bed diesel and my rear u joint is dead my problem is i cant get the rear part of the two piece drive shaft off at the rearend pinion flange it has four bolts holding it on and i cant remove them one of them is rounded off i am at a loss any suggestions you have will be helpful

fordsforever73 · 11-07-2012, 10:34 PM

Can you grab it with vise-grips? I have a set of these too: Craftsman 10 pc. Damaged Bolt/Nut Remover Set, Low Profile Bolt-Out Reviews - Craftsman Community. Good luck.

mitchranger1 · 11-07-2012, 10:35 PM

i tried that the bolts have a weird head on them

fordsforever73 · 11-07-2012, 11:10 PM

Those bolts should be a 12mm 12point head. I think they are loctited from the factory. If you have a fine tip propane torch, you could put a little heat to side of the flange where the threads are engaged and try.

Found this fyi: QU20103 Ford 12 Point Metric Driveshaft Bolt

TKOPerformance · 11-08-2012, 10:28 AM

Work on stuff long enough and you eventually develop many techniques for removing stuck fasteners.

Always go to the blue wrench first. Heat works wonders. If the heads are still good, be sure to use the proper wrench. You can link two wrenches together to get additional leverage too.

If you have a stripped head then your options are vice grips or sometimes a Metwrench or similar wrench that puts pressure on the flats instead of the corners will work.

If you can't get a wrench or vice grips to budge it then it may be drill time. Use a good center punch and drill the fastener completely through to accept a tapered square bolt extractor. Drive that thing in tight and carefully wrench it out. I would heat it again as well to assist you.

Working around the driveshaft flange may make some of these methods implausible. If you have no other option you can always just grind the heads off to get the driveshaft out. Then you can work on the flange unobstructed, or even remove the flange and work on it on the bench. You'll have to re-set the pinion bearing preload when you put it back together, but that isn't a big deal. I can walk you through it if you need.