56-66 Torque Tube/Axle Removal

written by Frank Swygert, 04-29-2026

56-66 Torque Tube/Axle Removal

Required to remove the rear axle, transmission, or torque tube (with driveshaft).

1. Chock front wheels front and back, at least one wheel.

2. Insert floor jack from rear of car under center of rear axle and jack up until both rear tires are off the ground.

3. Place jack stands under body in front of rear tires. Remove both rear tires (might want to break lug nuts loose before jacking up).

4. Disconnect shocks from rear axle (can leave them hanging on body, but they might get in the way… be careful not to bend!).

5. Disconnect flex brake line at body. Can’t turn the line to disconnect at axle. Hard brake line will unscrew from flex line at body, then remove clip holding line to body. If this line is known to be over 10 years old now is a good time to replace it. If replacing just cut for now, remove remnants and replace when reinstalling.

6. Disconnect park brake cable at front. Should be near transmission crossmember.

7. Disconnect Panhard rod. I prefer to disconnect from body and wire rod to rear axle to keep it out of the way and prevent damage.

8. Take the four bolts holding the torque tube to the transmission off on 63-66 models. 56-62 six cylinder manual trans models have just two bolts with springs. Note how the 56-62 six cylinder type goes back together (photo before disassembly if you don’t have a shop manual).

9. Lower the floor jack.

10. You should now be able to pull the rear axle out the back of the car on the floor jack. Note that if it has been a long time since removal (or never removed) the yoke may stick on the transmission output shaft and/or driveshaft inside the tube. Both are splined. You might have to attach a strap to the rear axle and jerk to get it loose. A steady pull doesn’t usually work, a few hard jerks will usually do it. I advise against using a vehicle to jerk it back no matter how hard it seems to be stuck as there is a danger of pulling the car off the jack stands. I’ve laid under the car and kicked the axle with my legs, but that depends on how much you trust your jack stands. With good stands and car properly chocked it SHOULD be safe… but some risk involved.

11. The driveshaft pulls out from the front of the tube. There is a center bearing on all models except six cylinders with automatic and a tubular instead of solid driveshaft. The bearing mounts to the solid portion of the driveshaft with a snap ring. Once the bearing breaks free after being in one position many years it should pull right out. If there is corrosion inside the tube it may take some effort to get the bearing out.

1957-62 six cylinder torque tube attachment. Just remove the two nuts (3) and pull back.

1957-62 six cylinder automatic trans and all V-8s use a round cushion and 5-6 bolt flange. Nash Rambler Rubber carries this type replacement (photo from their site).

63-66 cars all use a four bolt rectangular flange and cushion. Most AMC vendors carry the replacement cushion for these.