BMW E46/E36 How to Remove Seized Stuck CV Axle - 3 Series 

I spent all day flying around to different stores buying tools to try and get the damn thing off with no luck. Called it a night out of frustration. Finished watching this, went out and almost immediately it started to move out. You sir are a f-ing god.

Great idea! A lot better than whacking the driver bolt with a hammer!!

Worked for two days straight trying to remove. Watched this video and 5 min later it’s out! Many thanks!

I didn't pay much attention the last time I watched this video and couldn't think where I'd seen it but sure enough it was one of your videos. Excellent stuff as always.

Wow!!!! Thats 2,000 IQ right here! Pressure and pounding shock waves with a hammer. Genius! Subscribed for sure.

One of the best demonstrations I’ve seen

2 stuck axles go bye bye from car by means of O'Leary Shocker. your explanation is intellectually sound with the physics world, and is why you have had great success with it. now i get to use it on the next shitbox I buy :D Thank you for dedicating your time to sharing knowledge about vehicle maintenance

U a legend. Been struggling to remove. Your method works like a charm

I did this with a absolutely shot e46 rear axle was on the project for days until I cam am cross this video with persistence and time the axle came out great job👍👍

Thank you so much man I just ruined my m3 axle and it was still stuck until I watched this.

Shout out to you, this was the secret to getting my stuck axles out.

If I didn’t find this I would have been defeated. It worked!!!!

Thank you!!! That helped me out with my rusted old hubs!

I watched every video on removing stuck cv axle and tried them too but there is no way I could have removed the one in my Jaguar XF without using your method, I followed your instructions and it eventually moved but by bit and then completely, Tyler you are a legend in my mind ! Thankyou so much ! THE O’LEARY SHOCKER 👍

Thank you so much for this tip. Fought this axleshaft all weekend, watched the video didn’t think it would work, out in 5 minutes. 😊

Extraordinary detail ! Super helpful !! I learned lots !!! Thanks mate . 👊🏼🔥

You are a lifesaver! Was fighting this thing like hell, nothing worked, and then I found your video! Using an old brake rotor, I followed these directions exactly and... voila! I destroyed the wheel bearing in the process, but was replacing it anyway, so no problem! Also, another commenter said that your explanation was physically sound. As a broke physics PhD student and researcher (hence doing the job myself), I can confirm that your explanation was spot on! Will keep an eye out for any information you have to share in the future!

Great explanation and demonstration, Tyler! It's common for axles to be seized into hubs, especially in the rust belt part of the country! I wish I knew about this method 10+ years ago when I attempted to remove my first rear axle from my then, 12 year old e46. Shortly then a mechanic friend suggested the puller you used hear and the same method. No heat needed, no beating it to a pulp!😆 Works. Every. Time.👍

Thanks man!! I tried heat and hammer for like 2 hours with 0 progress. Bought the tools and was done in like 8-10 minutes :D

Thank you !!! So helpful.

Bro I tried everything for a week and all I had to do was hit it. I feel stupid. Thanks a mill

Thanks so much. Just Do It on my Ford transit mk7 2.2 fwd passing from disperate mood to Happy mood.😊

Mother effer! I tried it all and couldnt get mine out. I ended up taking it to a shop, trailing arm and all, to have them press it out. This method may worked! Thanks!

Good ol hamering always works.

Great video! I tried removing one from a spare hub assembly and broke the assembly (was using a 20T press). I have a torn boot on my E36 M3 track car and will give this method a shot.

Great tip. Thanks //John

Thank you for this 🤙

It worked, thank you !

When you say "hammer" you dont mean HAMMER. I bought a 16lb sledge hammer which is a MONSTER. I had a 270 lb 25 year old gorilla of a youth wield the sledge...... smacking the end of the axle which still had the nut attached. It came out....slowly......after repeated extremely strong blows. I lamented the process to a tech buddy at my local VERY LARGE BMW dealer who said that was exactly they way they do it in the shop since it is the lowest tech version AND the fastest way to get the job done!! I was quite shocked until I thought about what he said. No pullers. No presses. Just brute force and shock and awe. "Merica!

Great video. Would this work on a front wheel drive car.would it be better disconnecting lower ball joint and tierod end before whacking the brake disc. Also could you just remove brake disc and attach took to the bearing and do the same thing as I don't want to damage the disc as I am only replacing front wheel bearing .Thanks.

thank you

If you leave some wiggle room for the hub puller to move (don't tighten the wheel bolts but leave them backed out a little bit), you can strike the threaded rod with your bfh after tightening it. The threaded rod and hub puller will push the cv axle out a little bit. Retighten the threaded rod and repeat process until the cv axle breaks free. Don't attempt this method with the wheel bolts tightened. Your hub puller will crack. Ask me how I now.

Good shit !!!!

life saver

Best method out there

Thanks so much for sharing this video. This is the most difficult part of the job when changing a rear wheel bearing. In fact if the shaft wont move you are not going to be able to do the job...thanks again....brilliant

New sub great content. Ladies love the shocker 😂😂😂😂

thanks

Absolute unit. Going to try this tomorrow. I have a 13 year rusted axle stuck on the hub

Works like an impact wrench, but in reverse! 😁

Hi mate, this was good to see and kinda alleviated some of the stress I'm having. I have an F87 M2 with really badly rusted rear hub assembly from the first owner and I am kinda freaked out about going near it. The front hubs are really easy but the rears give me PTSD. Thing is, I already have a new GTS rear hub set pressed onto new bearings and just want to tear the whole thing off - basically I have all the hardware for a complete overhaul of the rear brake assembly, nuts and bolts included. Is the process similar? I can get the whole front assembly off with 4 bolts to the carrier arm but the rear has the axle splines and M2 axles aren't cheap... so, I don't want to damage anything or risk costing myself another couple of thousand in parts. What should i do in this case?? Any advice appreciated!

Fucking legend!! Was struggling so much with this❤️❤️❤️

This is great! I wish I’d seen this before spending an hour hammering with a 3lb hammer. Any tricks to get the axle back into the hub after replacing the bearing? I’ve cleaned and greased but it still is crazy tight.

Great tip! Where do you get this tool from that puts the pressure on the axle hub . Thanks for the bmw content also

Had exact prob on the 36 looking for phantom 36 noises. thought it maybe axle. Gave up on it...sound went away....36 drama😅😅

Uhhhh, and if this doesn't work? I been struggling with one for a few months (trying to have the trailing arm assembly to use on other e36) I currently have the axle assembly in a hydrolic press, clamped to bend the base, torched it red red hot a few times, smashed it with a massive sledgehammer but still not budging. I'm very close to giving in...

What hub puller is that

I know this is old, but my axle still wont budge an inch after doing this

Splines should always be greased. Did you use penetrating oil and let it set overnight or at least 20 minutes, a must for sure! Nut threads also should be lubricated or thread-locker. Hope this helps folks! You can also swap those axles left to right once wear and vibration sets in; like rotating tires, get more for your money! :)

Tried your method for almost 2 hours after 3 hours of everything else. Nothing worked, broke the same hub tool that you show in the video. I had to remove the entire assembly from the car. I took it to a machine shop to press out the axle. It took 8 tons of force to break it loose. The other side came out like butter with no hammering at all, just using the hub press.

What was the size/weight of that hammer and if this works I might start worshipping you.

Fuckin SHEER GENIUS !!!!!!! 4:12

Got one on getting it back in? Completely cleaned, scrubbed and lubed it and it still won't go back in.

Or rotary drill thin chisel.

great work!! 😊

What this tool called?

Thus isn't working I'm trying it rn. And why is yours fitting over your hub so perfect. Mine isn't I rented it from autozone. This isn't working for me man 😭😭

that was not a seized.. only little jammed..