What is the best way to clean up and repaint a complete axle

[GJUK]

I have an axle off my car, diff is still in it, brakes and cables etc.

 

its got 28 years of dirt and oil on it.

 

I've jetted it down with a high pressure jet wash but I need to clean the rest of it up. Any bright ideas?

 

Thanks

 

Jon

[mexman123]

Degreaser perhaps........?? Gunk or similar.......??

[baz105e]

use petrol and a 3 inch paint brush what i use to clean up dirty old engine blocks

[Mr Sam]

took everything off mine then attacked it with wire brushes

[Chris!]

Have it sand blasted

[GT_lenny]

if your completeley stripping it then sandblast it, if it just a quick clean and lick of paint then clean it off with gunk or simlar although i use paint thinners and then attack the worst areas with a wire wheel attachment for the angle grinder

[Sheepy]

i would jet wash it first, (hot wash) it will get all the oil and grease of, and wont send you high with the fumes of petrol! (or perhaps you'd like that)

but what is your plan, just to clean it up, or re paint it, if its to re paint it, its worth while shot blasting it!

[Spanner_monkey]

Shot blasting is definatly your best option if you have access. Otherwise a wire wheel in a drill works wonders mate.

[baz105e]

if you want to have it blasted jon i know a fella in ilkeston that'll do it for a fair price

[antony_S]

Did mine with a wire brush in an electric drill. I was a bit worried about blasting it and getting bits of grit inside

[hunted]

get angry with it. wire brush on a drill/grinder will do the trick, and plenty of degreaser. make sure its 100% oil/grease/grime free before you paint it, otherwise you'll regret it

[GJUK]

Thanks chaps, Baz I'll let you know!

 

Thanks

 

Jon

[ratman]

Did mine with a wire brush in an electric drill. I was a bit worried about blasting it and getting bits of grit inside

 

Do what I did I made ally plates and sealled with sealent not one bit of grit got inside the casing

 

 

 

Blasted

 

 

Then 2 coats of smothright job done

 

 

[GJUK]

Does the diff just pop out in these? I started to un-do the bolts wchi hold it in, it came loose, and a bit of oil came out. But then I decided I'd tighten it back up in case I break it.

[Andrade]

Does the diff just pop out in these? I started to un-do the bolts wchi hold it in, it came loose, and a bit of oil came out. But then I decided I'd tighten it back up in case I break it.

 

Diff goes out if you remove the halfshafts (and all the nuts of course) - make sure to pull it out as straight as you can otherwise it might get caught on the threads themselves. Initially it might not want to move because of some gasket sealer, get a scraper between the diff and casing to cut it loose

 

P.S: keep a bucket or something close by to catch the oil, i think it's best to empty it before taking bits off. There should be a sort of plumbing plug at the back of the case

[Toby]

Ratman's idea looks like a good plan, I too would be concerned about any grit that might get trapped in the case.

 

Nothing worse than grit in your rear end!

[Slammed]

 

Nothing worse than grit in your rear end!

 

 

you should know all about that game Toby

[ratman]

Ratman's idea looks like a good plan, I too would be concerned about any grit that might get trapped in the case.

 

Nothing worse than grit in your rear end!

 

Nasty

 

Ive still got the blanking plates if any one wants to borow them (providing i get them back )

[Toby]

 

Nothing worse than grit in your rear end!

 

 

you should know all about that game Toby

 

 

Absolutely! Almost as bad as shards of teeth in your box!