Running RWD... disassembly of front axles

[kingbobdole]

Hey...

My front CVs are bad, real bad so I was going to pull them apart while in the car, leaving the spindle alone and only taking the inner and axle parts. I'm about 1/2 way done where I got the drivers side axle out, but now the pass side is being a @#$%@#$(!!!!!! Basically my question is how do you get the axle out of the spindle? Whats the magic that I unknowlingly did the first time, but couldn't replicate... I did a quick search, but came up short.

Thanks

[Numbchux]

well, the cv's are pressed in there. when I had an inner DOJ fail while we were camping, and had to pound the CV apart to get home without vibration, that when functioning properly, they're hard to get apart. but run some muddy/sandy water through there, they come apart real easy!

 

it's probably just different degrees of failure, one came apart pretty easy, the other isn't.

 

and the time I had to break one apart at our campsite, the retaining ring broke off before anything else.

[WJM]

the shaft is held in the CV inner cage by a circlip...need to use a hammer to beat the CV assy off the shaft.

 

In car its difficult.

 

Out of the car its cake.

 

I have done both.

[ShawnW]

Pop the ball joint bolt out, the one that is horizantally thru the steering knuckle, and then pop the ball joint out of the knuckle with the control arm. At that point the knuckle is floating around hanging by the strut. Next pop the roll pin out of the trans end of the axle.

 

 

Then just take a swing with a rubber mallet at the threaded end of the axle pushing it thru the wheel bearings. The whole assembly should come out as one piece. PM if you dont know about the axle deal, might be able to go lower for a local.

[Numbchux]

oops....I completely misread your post....yea...what shawn said

[kingbobdole]

Ok,

I know how to get the axles out... I just want to know how to get them APART..... Numbchux, you had it right the first time, WJMs got it too, but whats the trick to the in car pull apart. The other axle was the one with the failed outer boot... but this outer boot is fine so its being a pain. I really dont want to pull the axle all the way out, but I will if I gotta then I'll just put it in a vice and smack the 5417 out of it. Honda axles have the same circlip and they come out so easy...........

[idosubaru]

if you're having this much trouble phil i think it might be easier to remove the axle to get it done and put it back in. it's only one bolt, the axle nut and it'll come out.

[archemitis]

i always take the axle out first.

 

its all about the angles. when the whole axle is in your hand. take the outer boot off. then bend the joint to almost a 90 degree angle. then one ball bearing should be able to pop out. rotate to another ball bearing, and it should pop out. after about three pop out, it will slide out. but then i like to get the cage, and the rest of the balls out of there, just so its not slinging balls, and greas down the highway.

 

its like a japanese puzzle. just bend and twist till stuff pops out.

 

the only retaining ring is on the doj, the one closest to the tranny.