Tapered axle question

It's been a long time since I worked on a tapered D44 axle. Is there a hole in the flange that allows you to get to the backing plate bolts so you can pull the axle assembly out with the hub still on the axle? I'm going to pick up an offset D44 on Wed and the current owner would like to keep the brake components and I sold my hub puller years ago.

 

John,
If the brake drum does not have swaged lug studs, it should slip off the hub and you can get to the nuts on the backing plate with an offset box wrench.
You will still need a slide hammer to get the axle out if the trick of using the brake drum as the sliding weight doesn't pop it out.
If you need a hub puller, PM me. I have one at my home in Sacramento, you could come by Wednesday evening and use it to pull that axle apart.

Don

 

John, all the parts I want to keep are already off the axle.

 

Thanks for the offer, Don. Looks like I won't need the puller.

Mike: I thought you wanted the backing plates off the axle. Did you already pull them? See you Wed.

 

Not the backing plates, just the drums.

See you Wed