So I was out playing in the snow, and low and behold, I blow a halfshaft. It busted at the hub. So, I pull the tire and look to see what I can do to remove it and try to drive home. It didn't come out the way I was hoping it would, in fact, I couldn't figure out how to remove it without completey tearing apart the whole hub assembly and differential area. Since I didn't have tools for that, and it was slightly below freezing, this was not an option. I eventuall put it back together and drove out with the stub banging around until it broke off the rest of the cup on the hub end. I actually drove it about 45 miles to the dealership where thay are now awaitng parts to fix it under warranty. The only subsequent damage from driving was it bent thesway bar link.

So the question is: how do you remove it in the field? I am sure I will break another one before my time is done, but next time I want to avoid the sick feeling of wondering what other damage I may cause. It could have easily taken out the brake line in which case I would be in big trouble.

 

So nobody know how to remove th halfshaft in the field, huh? Oh-well.I guess I'll ask the mechanic when I get it back from the dealer.

 

A Hacksaw or Cutting torch would do the trick in a hurry!!!

 

True, but how likely are you to be carrying those around with you, unless you're on your way to break into bank!

 

Or recovering your HUMMER from the impound!!!

 

I had thought of a hacksaw, but the first problem is getting to the halfshaft with enough throw on the saw to make it worth your time. the second proble is you would have an out of balance thing sitting up there flopping around creating vibrations that could cause more damage. I may have doen this already, only time will tell. I am hoping that since it was left long, the weight of itsefl would help keep from causing it to shake around too much. I didn't feel anything, nor did it make too much noise, so I am hoping I am in the clear on that.
These things just don't unbolt from a flange like the H1's do at the differential or like a Toyota drive line does. There seems to be a clip or roll pin or something else that keeps it attached to the differential. This is the part I need help with, and how much crap you need to remove to get to it, and get it out.

 

i havent had a H3s out but alot of them have a ring on the shaft that snaps into the differential
a pry bar is need to pop the shaft out
once u have the axle nut offu need toundo the bottom ball joint and swing the spindle out of the way to get the shaft out
this is for most front wheel drives
cant swear this is right for the H3

 

Thanks. That is a start. I've never messed with a front wheel drive before, at least not in this area. I was lookin for a flange with bolts, but when I saw it didn't have that, I was stumped and didnt have the tools to completely dissassemble stuff to look deeper. It does have a bit of a slip joint in it at the diff end, and along with the other end being broken off, I probably could have just pulled it out without having to pull the ball joint.

Does anyone have a manual for it, and if so, where did you get it, and how much was it?

 

Wow weird is this a manufacture defect or what? I popped mine as well - here's the thread :What were you doing when it cracked Linus? I was stuck ontop of a rock and my wheel was jacked to the right and I was going in reverse trying to climb back over the rock...it also broke at the hub, you got any pics? I paid $300 for mine with a friends discount, a friend and I installed it which saved me the installation fee from the dealership.

 

Yeah, I read that thread as it was going along. The fact that you pulled yours out in the field is what inspired me to try to do the same, but once I took the wheel off and saw nothing that I knew what to do with, I went to plan "B". I was playing in snow, had the wheel turned all the way to the left and was actually just trying to turn around. I wasn't far enough off the road, so I tapped the throttle and "POP!", there it went. Ironically, we went out in the sno to take pics, but once we broke down, the camera seemed to disappear. My dealer is fixing it under warranty.
What kind of tools did you need, and what all did you need to take apart? In your pics I see you pulled the stub out of the hub, I was planning on leaving that in.