This begs an interesting question then.  Is it the socket or the flex
handle/breaker bar that bears the most stress when doing this
job?  ie where do you cheap out if you have to???  I bought a really
big Taiwanese pipe wrench(maybe 18" size) in a box of tools at a yard
sale this morning for $10. The extension pipe was not pricey at all.

DM&FS

At 11:24 AM 6/12/2010, Ed wrote:
>I purchased a 1 13/16" 3/4" socket from Napa for $14.29.  1 13/16 is 46.0375
>mm, entirely adequate for removing the 46 mm axle nut.  The breaker bar
>handle was much more expensive but you can probably borrow one from somebody
>or a FLAPS that lends tools or just buy a cheap one.
>
>Check out the Spare Vanagon List archive Photos >  Miscellaneous   for a
>picture:
>
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vanagon/photos/album/698874200/pic/1917058114/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc
>
>Ed