So I'm trying to replace my CV half shafts which have torn boots and are clicking pretty bad. I cannot for the life of me get the nuts on the differential side off, i hit them with solvent for a few days, tried using a wrench on each side of the bolt, tried ratchets with extensions, pretty much everything i can think of and they still wont budge at all.
Are there any tricks to this or do i need to go buy an impact wrench?

 

Remember that the bolt is splined into the flange if they are original. So turning the bolt head will turn the axle shaft. If they are rusted bad you can heat them with a torch to help break them loose or just burn them all the way off.

 

Using the extensions all your torque is used up by the slight twisting in the extensions.

The more you use the worse it gets.

I was lucky mine broke loose pretty easy if yours are really rusted even a 1/2" impact might not break them loose.

Maybe with help a 1/2" breaker bar and a length of pipe

 

Yeah i was thinking that with the extensions but didn't have any luck either way so i was trying whatever i could.
Gonna go buy an impact wrench later and hope that does the job!

 

These nuts are freaking insane, I'm about to just give up.
Tried the breaker bar with as much pipe as will fit between it and the floor and it didnt budge, got ahold of a 1/2" impact wrench and that just clutched out immediately. These things are just in the most awkward spot and are rusted on so fricking tight. I've got nothing

 

Just where are you located ?? perhaps someone close by that has done this could help.

Worse case Cut the nuts off drive the studs out and replace with bolts M12x1.25 X35mm

Just what are you soaking them with ??

Then remember all impact wrenches are not the same the one I use has 1000 footpounds of torque in reverse

 

You could try the breaker bar again but instead of a pipe use a hydraulic jack.

 

buy a small propane torch from the hardware store. heat the nuts up with the torch real good and then give it a try. you'd be amazed with what a little heat will help with. you'll find a torch will come in real handy working on cars.

 

Dumb question. Are you on the right of the cv joint were the bolts aren't welded ? I did it by accident.

 

Update:
I got 4 of the 6 on the passenger side off with the impact wrench after a lot of frustration. The remaining 2 are pretty stripped from being an idiot and slipping the wrench so I'll probably get a nut splitter and just buy new ones after getting them off.
Kind of a newbie so it's a good learning experience! Thanks for the tips

 

If your truck is rusty, ad this to your tool list. I bet with some heat those bolts would have come right off.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...R4MaAnaB8P8HAQ

 

I saw your post on /r/4Runner. Glad to hear you found some success!

 

I made sure to loosen them before removing tire from truck. Just get a 17mm on the nut only nice and solid and step on it with your foot. That is what worked for me.