Vehicular tool

A tool is provided for removing a spindle extending from the wheel assembly of a motor vehicle from its corresponding spindle support. Such a spindle has a first end fixed to the wheel assembly, a middle region that is wedged into a spindle support, and free end that extends outwardly from the spindly support. The present invention is a tool comprised of a frame, attachment means to engage the frame to the spindle support in a spaced apart relation thereto, and means to support a hydraulic press positioned between the frame and the free end, the press being adapted to apply a force between the frame and spindle support and push the spindle out of its associated spindle support.

The present invention relates to a tool, intended for use in repairs of 
automobiles and other motor vehicles, to disengage a wheel spindle from 
its associated spindle support. 
The spindle of an automobile is typically comprised of a tapered shaft 
extending from a disk, which may be a brake disk; the disk is engaged to a 
wheel of the vehicle. The spindle is generally engaged to an associated 
spindle support by means of the shaft of the spindle being tightly wedged 
into a corresponding tapered aperture within the spindle support. In order 
to remove the spindle from the aperture, it is necessary to apply a 
powerful pushing force, and this should preferably be accomplished without 
damaging any of the wheel components. 
One such device known in the art is comprised of a steel plate, which is 
engaged, in a spaced-apart relation, to the spindle support by two bolts 
attached to one end of the plate and a brace at the other end of the 
plate. The brace is adapted to be releasable engaged to the strut rod 
support. A sturdy bolt is threaded into an aperture in the steel plate 
aligned with the free end of the spindle. Continued turning of the bolt 
applies a pushing force against the spindle. This existing device suffers 
three disadvantages. First, it is difficult to obtain sufficient leverage 
to apply the necessary pushing force to remove the spindle from its 
socket. Second, the device has a tendency to damage the relatively 
delicate threaded end portion of the spindle when sufficient force is 
applied to remove the spindle. Third, the strut rod must be disassembled 
in order to engage the tool to the strut rod support, and this is a 
lengthy process in which the rubber bushing of the strut rod must often be 
destroyed. 
The present device is an improved spindle-removing tool that makes use of a 
hydraulic press to apply a pushing force to the spindle. 
Several devices exist that remove gears and the like from a shaft onto 
which they have been wedged, by means of a hydraulic press. For example, 
Canadian Patent 1,113,228 (Altmeyer) discloses a device comprised of a 
hydraulic press in the form of a ring that surrounds a shaft. The press 
expands longitudinally, causing a gear wedged onto the shaft to be 
removed. 
The present device is a tool to remove a spindle from its socket; the tool 
is comprised of: 
(a) a support frame; 
(b) means to fixedly engage the frame to the spindle support; 
(c) a hydraulic press adapted to be positioned between a portion of the 
frame and the free end of the spindle, and to apply a force therebetween. 
In a preferred embodiment, the device is adapted for use on the rear wheel 
assembly of a Corvette (.TM.) automobile and is provided with a collar 
adapted to convey the pushing force of the hydraulic press directly to a 
widened lower portion of the spindle, in order to minimize damage to the 
more delicate upper portion of the spindle. The preferred embodiment is 
further provided with a hinged strut clamp having a two prongs at the free 
end thereof and a connecting bolt joining the ends of the prongs. The 
strut clamp may be engaged to a strut rod support without removing the 
strut rod therefrom, by removing the connecting bolt, inserting the prongs 
over the base of the strut rod support, and reinserting the bolt.

The spindle of an automobile and its associated elements will now be 
described. 
Referring to FIG. 9, a brake disk 1 of a Corvette automobile is 
illustrated. A spindle 2 extends axially from the middle of the brake 
disk. The spindle is comprised of a relatively thick inner tapered portion 
11 adjacent the brake disk 1, and a thinner outer threaded portion 12 
adjacent the free end of the spindle. A shoulder 13 separates the thicker 
inner portion 11 and thinner outer portion 12. 
Referring to FIG. 1, the brake disk 1, the spindle 2 and surrounding 
elements are illustrated, with the tool positioned to remove the spindle. 
The spindle is engaged to a tapered socket, not shown, within the spindle 
support 3, which is illustrated in FIG. 9. A torque control arm 5 is 
mounted to the spindle support 3 and extends radially therefrom. 
Referring to FIG. 8, a strut rod support 6 is mounted to the spindle 
support. The strut rod support is comprised of a relatively narrow neck 14 
and two arms 8 extending laterally therefrom. Each arm 8 receives a strut 
rod 10 mounted thereto. 
It will be seen that the spindle 2 may be removed from the socket of the 
spindle support 3 by applying a powerful pushing force against the free, 
threaded end 12 of the spindle 2, and that such pushing force must be 
braced against the spindle support 3 or elements fixed thereto. 
The spindle removing tool will now be described. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 
4, the spindle removing tool has a frame comprised of a flat plate 15 
having a threaded central aperture 16. Two rods 24 depend from the plate 
15 and engage it to the spindle support in a spaced-apart relationship. 
Each rod 24 is rotatably engaged to the plate 15 within an aperture 17 
within one end of the plate 15. 
Each rod 24 is comprised of an elongate body, a first threaded end 29 
adapted to be threaded into corresponding threaded apertures, not shown, 
in the spindle support 3, and a second threaded end 30. The second 
threaded end 30 extends through the corresponding aperture 17 in the plate 
15. The aperture 17 is unthreaded to allow the rod 24 to rotate freely 
therein. Each rod 24 is engaged to the plate 15 by two nuts 31 threaded 
onto and welded to the exposed part of the second threaded end 30. The 
rods 24 are positioned such that the first threaded ends 29 correspond 
with the threaded apertures provided in the spindle support 3. 
A large threaded bolt 32 is threaded through the central aperture 16 of the 
plate 15. The threaded end of the bolt 32 is squared off, and is adapted 
to abut a hydraulic press 34, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5. 
A strut clamp 19 is hinged to a square recess 18 at an opposing end of the 
plate 15, and cooperates with the rods 24 to engage the plate 15 to the 
spindle support. The strut clamp 19 is pivotally mounted to the plate 15 
within the recess 18, by way of a pivot bolt 20. 
Referring to FIG. 7, the strut clamp 19 is comprised of an arm 21, one end 
of which attaches to the pivot bolt 20, and the other end of which 
bifurcates into two prongs 22. Each prong 22 has an aperture 23 adjacent 
the free end thereof. A connecting bolt 26 is provided, and is adapted to 
be inserted through the apertures 23. 
Referring to FIG. 1, a hydraulic press 34 is interposed between the 
threaded end of the bolt 32 and a collar 40. The hydraulic press 34 is 
more fully illustrated in FIG. 5 and is comprised of a body 35 having a 
piston 36 that may be forcibly extended therefrom, and a hydraulic valve 
37 for the introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure. Hydraulic lines 
and pumps for the provision of pressurized fluid are not illustrated, but 
are well known in the art. The piston 36 is provided with a circular 
recess 38 adapted to receive the free end of the bolt 32. 
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, the collar 40 may be placed over the threaded 
portion 12 of the spindle 2, in order to protect it from damage. The 
collar 40 is illustrated in FIG. 1 positioned between the press 34 and the 
shoulder 13. The collar 40 is comprised of a thick-walled tubular member, 
and is slightly longer than the threaded portion 12 over which it fits. 
In use, the collar 40 is positioned over the threaded portion 12, abutting 
the shoulder 13. The hydraulic press 34 is then positioned over the other 
end of the collar. The plate 15 is positioned over the hydraulic press 34. 
As illustrated in FIG. 8, each of the rods 24 extending from the plate 15 
is screw-threadedly engaged to the spindle support 3 and the strut clamp 
19 (shown partly in section) is engaged to the strut rod support 6 by 
positioning the prongs 22 over the neck 14 of the strut rod support 6. The 
connecting bolt 26 is inserted through the apertures 23, and prevents the 
strut clamp 19 from being pulled past the arms 8 of the strut rod support 
6. 
The threaded bolt 32 is threaded through the aperture 16 of the plate 15, 
into the aperture 36 of the press 34. The bolt 32 is hand-tightened such 
that all slack is removed from the system. The hydraulic valve 37 is then 
opened to gradually apply a large amount of pressure to the spindle 2. 
Hydraulic presses known to the art apply ten thousand pounds or more of 
force, and this is sufficient to remove most such spindles. 
It will be evident that the large forces at work in the use of such a tool 
necessitates the use of thick forged or cast steel or other suitably 
strong alloy parts throughout. 
It will be seen that modifications may be made to the embodiment described 
herein, for example to adapt it for use in various makes of automobiles, 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in 
the appended claims.