Rear Axle Dana 44 question

Got a Dana 44 under a 66 CJ5. Attempting to pull the axle shafts to replace bearings, clean backing plate, replace seals, etc.
Paaenger side hub and axle shaft came out without a puller, just a lot of grunting,,, guess I got lucky on that one. Now I am having a hard time on the driver side. Cant get the hub off. I dont have a puller, but figured I could remove the axle nut, and pull the backing plate bolts off. That's done, but the axle shaft will still not budge. There is approximately 1/4- 3/8" play, but it appears to be in there pretty good. Any ideas,,,, whats holding it in?

By the way, got smart and just ordered a hub puller!!!!

What's holding the axle shaft?????

 

I just ordered one of them fancy smack-it-with-a-bfh hub pullers but it hasn't come in yet. I'm wondering, though, when you smack it with a hammer, what prevents the axle/hub from just turning and preventing the energy from being transferred? I guess I'll find out when it comes in.

 

Lenght of chain wokrs well also.

About 15 ft of a fairly heavy, tow type chain will pop them right out. I did this on my flanged, wagoneer D44. Both were stuck hard.

Put one end of the chain on a couple of stud bolts and back off to the end of the chain. Pop the chain up and down and the wipping weight of the chain pops the axle right out. Didn't hurt anything...except my "package"....as I grabbed the chain a couple of feet from the end. The 2ft left hanging below my hand took a different path during the whipping motion.....down I went! True story, still hurts to think about it. Was back up & walking around in 10 minutes or so.

The method actually does work very well if you don't want to buy tools. A friend of mine told me about it and I didn't believe him until it worked.

MAKE SURE you grab the chain on the end..lol.

 

i did mine with the axle out of the jeep and on jackstands in the garage. i didnt have a problem with the hub spinning but the drum was bent a little making the brakes drag. i held the drum/hub with on hand and hit the puller with the other. use plenty of WD40 on the puller threads.
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That would've made a GREAT youtube video!R)

 

Thanks for the help guys, great information. The puller has'nt come in yet, but I'm sure with ya"lls help, I'll get it off.

 

BTW, my smack-it-with-a-bfh puller came in and I used it yesterday. Wow, it makes all the difference in the world! After destroying two cheapo Chinese pullers, this heavy make-in-the-USA tool turned it into a 2 minute job. Worth every penny even if I never use it again.

 

I use heavy oil on the puller threads and if everything is really stuck, be careful to not break the wheel studs (I bought all 5 arms). Stay out of the line of flight, if something breaks the puller becomes a short range projectile.

 

I think Earlycj5.com could become self supporting if it sold just one item. A heavy duty hub puller. R)