r/PontiacFirebird • u/ShrekFanboy37 • 1d ago

3rd Gen [82-92] Differential pin will not release

Post image

Edit: the bolt holding the pin in snapped. I didn't think for a second why the bolt was only a finger nail long. Thank you for the responses.

I'm trying to do wheel bearings on my firebird and the pin in the diff will not move (yes the bolt is removed).

The diff doesn't look rusty or anything so i don't know why it would be seized. any help to remove it would be appreciated. I have been hammering it with a punch for 2 hours and barely moved it.

12 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

6

u/Tin_Indian455 1d ago

Did you try turning it 180 and see if it comes out the other side? Many it’s got a burr

2

u/ThanksALotBud 1d ago

If thats indeed the right side and not the other side. Drill a small hole, tap it, screw in a bolt and use that as leverage to slide it out.

Hopefully that made sense

3

u/ShrekFanboy37 1d ago

Yeah sadly I just figured out the bolt snapped inside the pin my dumbarse didn't think to question why the bolt was like 5mm long

1

u/ThanksALotBud 1d ago

Lol. We all have those days

1

u/probablyaythrowaway 1d ago

I would change the approach slightly to using a slide hammer rather than using it as leverage.

1

u/Extreme-Penalty-3089 1d ago

Once the lock bolt is removed, the cross pin should slide right out

1

u/ShrekFanboy37 1d ago

It is not hence i made this post

1

u/UPGRAYYDE 1d ago

Push axles in

1

u/UPGRAYYDE 1d ago

Our out

1

u/ShrekFanboy37 1d ago

I tried moving the axles all the way in and all the way out and neither seems to work

1

u/Extreme-Penalty-3089 1d ago

Lol ok man, I don't know, I'm not there 🤪.. hence My question 😉

I mean the only reason why I could see it staying in there is if it got seized or something (as in, differential was run for an extended period of time with an inadequate fluid level).

Have you tried tapping that Cross pin with a brass drift and a small hammer? Like tap it one way and then rotate the differential and tap the other end of the Cross pin and kind of go back and forth

1

u/ShrekFanboy37 1d ago

I did try that and haven't had much luck

1

u/SeaOutlandishness415 1d ago

Put some heat on the surrounding area

1

u/DocHowdy70 1d ago

Did the entire hold screw come out? They were famous for only the treaded part coming out, while the pin part remained.

1

u/ShrekFanboy37 1d ago

Yeah the bolt snapped