Markus56 Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 I'm trying to fit the spline of the new axle into the wheel bearings and it is being a pain in the a**. is there any easy way to get the spline into the hole? Thanks! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baccaruda Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 If it's not inserted perfectly straight it can be difficult. Also, you can take off the hub (4 14mm bolts) and use two screwdrivers on the threaded tip to pry it forward a little (push the screwdrivers away from yourself). After you get it forward a little more, screw the castle nut on a little and pry against that. Progressively screw the nut on and pry the axle through the bearings this way. After the tip is forward enough, remove the nut and replace the hub and do it again. Eventually you will have the axle all the way through and you can replace the cone washer and the convex/concave washer. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoobieDoo Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 See if there are any dark spots or corrosion in the wheel bearings. You can degrease, then sand away the dark spots with a very fine emery paper. It took me a good 45 minutes, but then the axle went right in with a length of 2x4 and a sledge, through the engine compartment. I was stuck bad trying to get the new one in, but finally got it with Scott's help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markus56 Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 how would you hit in the axle when the end that attaches to the tranny moves back and forth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markus56 Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 now the castle nut wont screw on to the spline Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markus56 Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 Finished!!! only took me 4 hours :banana: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edrach Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Bacaruda's approach is what I used when I first started doing axles. I even bought about 8 very large washers that I added as spacers under the axle nut to pull the axle through. After that prying with the two screw drivers against the nut got the axle through the rest of the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edrach Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Finished!!! only took me 4 hours :banana: That's about right for the first time. Took me 4-1/2 hours for my first one. My best time has been 1/2 hour; I was in a hurry and got a car where the bearings were slightly bigger than usual. Glad to see you got it done. The next one will be easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markus56 Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 The screwdriver thing really made things fly. I get to replace the other side tomorrow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[HTi]Johnson Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 You need this bad boy You feed it from the outside of the car, through the hub, screw it to the axle, then tighten the nuts and it pulls the axle through the hub while keeping everything inline. Of course, I don't have one of these bad boys, just know of them. You can pay $80 for one here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoobieDoo Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Glad you got it done so quickly! Took me just as long, and I had help in the end. It takes a second person to hold and guide the axle, while the other does the pounding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edrach Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Johnson;817629']You need this bad boy You feed it from the outside of the car' date=' through the hub, screw it to the axle, then tighten the nuts and it pulls the axle through the hub while keeping everything inline. Of course, I don't have one of these bad boys, just know of them. You can pay $80 for one here. That's why I no longer use my screwdriver and washer trick. I forgot what I paid for mine; got it off ebay a few years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edrach Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Glad you got it done so quickly! Took me just as long, and I had help in the end. It takes a second person to hold and guide the axle, while the other does the pounding. Just to make sure, the ONLY time you should be pounding on the axle is to get the old one out. Installing the new one, pull it through gently. There's too much chance of damaging the new axle if you try to pound it in to get it through the bearings. I never needed a 2nd person to swap an axle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Johnson;817629']You need this bad boy... $56.00.... http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=OTC7535&source=froogle&kw=OTC7535 GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edrach Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 $56.00.... http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=OTC7535&source=froogle&kw=OTC7535 GD And worth every penny if you're going to have EA81 and EA82 cars around. I wonder if it would work for the EJ axle (probably not since the axle nuts are different threads:rolleyes:); besides you don't need it for the new gen cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markus56 Posted April 24, 2009 Author Share Posted April 24, 2009 I bought 2 axles for less than what the tool costs I will stick with the screwdrivers for now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edrach Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I bought 2 axles for less than what the tool costs I will stick with the screwdrivers for now Screwdrivers (and a set of large washers make it easier) work just fine. Only takes a little longer in doing the axle replacement (maybe 5 minutes longer). But if you're doing more than one axle a month, this tool is worth the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I bought 2 axles for less than what the tool costs I will stick with the screwdrivers for now Quality axles run about $75 give or take. Used are a crapshoot and most reman'ed are junk. The cost of owning a Subaru and if you don't want to do them again in short order I sugest you rethink your purchasing priorities. Replacing the cone washer's is also a good idea (~$12 each from the dealer). Quality parts cost money - that's the price of driving a car. You can get by on used stuff if you have plenty of time to spend on your car - but time is money and in the case of many of us - time is more valuable than the difference in cost between a junkyard axle at $25 and a brand new one for $65.... not to mention the headache of pulling the thing from a yard. EMPI is my current brand of choice for axles and I get a good price from my local EMPI/VW aftermarket dealer. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markus56 Posted April 25, 2009 Author Share Posted April 25, 2009 No offense to anyone, but I am a broke a$$ high schooler with no money whatsoever. I will take what I can get for as cheap as i can get it. Plus my car doubles as a wheeler wagon as well as my DD, so cheap axles are a plus for breakage in the middle of nowhere. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edrach Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 No offense to anyone, but I am a broke a$$ high schooler with no money whatsoever. I will take what I can get for as cheap as i can get it. Plus my car doubles as a wheeler wagon as well as my DD, so cheap axles are a plus for breakage in the middle of nowhere. John John, I know where you're coming from. I have my source of new/rebuilt axles and I have to agree with GD on his advice. However, I've found that I would rather buy "selected" used axles at Pull a Part than new. But I'm willing to spend the time to install another one every four or five months. If you ignore the time lost, and are willing to deal with the unexpected failure, this is certainly the cheapest way. Best of luck with it; we're here to help when you looking for advice or info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoodsboy Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 A nice little tip I always give out concerning front axle troubles.... WHEN the time comes for front wheel bearing replacement, take your old garbage bearings and pound the centers out. (harder than it sounds) This will give you 2 perfectly sized rings to pull your axle through the new bearings. These also have the added advantage of a large enough "center" to allow the splines to pull through, not just the threaded end. and with the installation of tight new bearings ... youre gonna need it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battlecat Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 (edited) Johnson;817629']You need this bad boy You feed it from the outside of the car' date=' through the hub, screw it to the axle, then tighten the nuts and it pulls the axle through the hub while keeping everything inline. Of course, I don't have one of these bad boys, just know of them. You can pay $80 for one here. Excuse me, but I just came across this thread and saw this tool. I want to express my undyin' gratitude to you for posting this (I've been looking for something like this for years...even came across a guy on another forum who made his own device that looked somewhat similar..but otherwise, I never knew this existed!) Edited May 5, 2009 by battlecat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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