Changing the 3rd member on my 86 4runner. We followed all the procedures step by step, but its stuck in the axle housing and won't come off? any idea what might be holding it there? Axles are out, bolts removed drive shaft off, brake lines disconnected obviously. I have beat on this thing with a hammer and crow bar and it won't budge. Tried prying it and nothing. Any ideas as to what might be holding this thing in there, I find it hard to believe that it is just some silicone sealant.
Thanks for any ideas you might have.

 

Rust, gasket maker. Put a jack under in and gently raise it with weight of truck on it.

 

Are the axles out?

 

Axles are out, I know they only have to be pulled out a few inches but when the thing wouldn't budge, I pulled them out completely, just in case.

 

ONce the axels are out, make sure youve got ALL the nuts/bolts off the housing, there isn't anything else, just the gasket material. If it hasn't been out in a long time it may take some serious banging to get it off, mine did.

 

Talk dirty to it.

Took an 81 diff out last week that I don't think had ever been removed...took lots of big rubber mallet work and a prybar. Once you get a spot loose it is cake.

 

the jack method described by muddpigg worked for me. Mine was stuck otherwise, kicking it and beating it didn't even budge it.

 

mine did that and it had a stud that was slightly bent..I yanked on it for an hour before I realized it..Bent it straight and it came right out..but mine would wiggle a lil though...Id soak it with PB Blast and use said jack method and a BFH to break it loose..

 

Thanks, that's what it took, just banging on it for an hour and it finally came loose. hard to believe some silicone and age had it on there that firmly.

 

Hooray for silicone!