You try a pry bar yet?

No I have not. I dont really know where I need to be prying at. Its drivers side and I noticed there is a carrier bearing or something about 18 inches back from the hub and then it goes on to the transmission from there. Where do I need to get it loose from? the carrier bearing or tranny?

Both to remove the axle. You need to push the hub end of the axle thru the hub, detach the carrier bearing bracket from the block, and use a pry bar to pop the tranny end out of the tranny. The tranny end of the axle has c-clips which hold it in so the axle can't just slip out of the differential.

Here's a walk through:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGDw73GoIeE

I took a pry bar right to where the axel goes into the tranny and just spin the axel and apply some pressure to the pry bar and at a certain point it should just pop out

Thanks for all the help guys! I ran out of time today but I will try my luck with it tomorrow. That youtube video def helps out! Thanks again!

1BAD98GSX said:

Thanks for all the help guys! I ran out of time today but I will try my luck with it tomorrow. That youtube video def helps out! Thanks again!

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No problem! If you ever have any questions just search "jafromobile" on youtube. He has a lot of great videos

Do you have the lower ball joint apart and tie rod apart yet? If your just changing the axle you don't even need to take the carrier bearing or that part of the shaft out (but it is only 2 bolts if you really want to). I just did my drivers front axle in the gvr4 took me about 20 min! Once I had the axle out of the hub I simple used a hammer and punch and hit the axle out of the carrier. Then to put the new one in I used a large dead blow hammer so I wouldn't damage my new axle and hit it back into position the same as the old, was that simple! For the op try some spray lube on anything rusty your having a problem with it will help loosen them up. And remember when you reinstall to put some grease on the splines and hub so it won't get stuck again!

Dsmkauai said:

Do you have the lower ball joint apart and tie rod apart yet? If your just changing the axle you don't even need to take the carrier bearing or that part of the shaft out (but it is only 2 bolts if you really want to). I just did my drivers front axle in the gvr4 took me about 20 min! Once I had the axle out of the hub I simple used a hammer and punch and hit the axle out of the carrier. Then to put the new one in I used a large dead blow hammer so I wouldn't damage my new axle and hit it back into position the same as the old, was that simple! For the op try some spray lube on anything rusty your having a problem with it will help loosen them up. And remember when you reinstall to put some grease on the splines and hub so it won't get stuck again!

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I havent even got the axle out of the hub yet haha... I got a hub puller from work and will try to get that separated tomorrow. Thanks for all the help! I'm def gonna put some anti-seize or something on the splines of the axles, its crazy how froze up it is and its only got 40k miles on it...

Mello said:

Both to remove the axle. You need to push the hub end of the axle thru the hub, detach the carrier bearing bracket from the block, and use a pry bar to pop the tranny end out of the tranny. The tranny end of the axle has c-clips which hold it in so the axle can't just slip out of the differential.

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There is no c-clip on the end of the axle that goes into the trans for the drivers side, when you unbolt the carrier bearing from the block it just slides out. Only the passenger side has the C-Clip.

Im going to change my driver side front axle this weekend, thanks for all the good pointers. It should go alot smoother after reading this. Thanks

94gsxawd said:

Im going to change my driver side front axle this weekend, thanks for all the good pointers. It should go alot smoother after reading this. Thanks

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hey look Boise! thought I was alone, It's not as bad as you may think

O.p. pulling the tie rod off and lower ball joint will actually free up the axle too! I would loosen all them up like I'm saying before you try again. Plus you need them loose so you can move the spindle out of the way and pull the axle out. Hope that helps if you need any other tips just ask or pm me! Also remember that when your prying the axle out from the trans. The c-clip holding it in the trans has a sweet spot. So as you pry if you turn the axle at the same time. You will eventually hit the sweet spot and the axle will pop out much easier! If you having trouble getting the axle out of the hub spray it down really good with some lube and only use a dead blow or rubber mallet the bigger the better and hit it hard should be enough to pop it out. Once the axle is out of the hub use a die grinder and Scotch brite bad to remove any rust that could be causing your hang up, then spray some oil to lube or apply grease! This will help you in the future if you need to pull the axle or anything!

synthetek said:

There is no c-clip on the end of the axle that goes into the trans for the drivers side, when you unbolt the carrier bearing from the block it just slides out. Only the passenger side has the C-Clip.

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So there is no c-clip on driver side? I have had a few people talk about there being a c-clip.. can anybody else chime in on this? If there is not a c-clip it just sounds like I undo the carrier bearing and should be good to go! Thanks again everybody for the help! Glad to know there are actually people on this forum that wants to help.. I have been on some other forums and ran into a bunch of jerks. I really appreciate all the advice!

No c-clip on the drivers side inner shaft, even in my oem book it only shows the passenger side having one. So make sure you put those 2 bolts in and torque to spec for the carrier bearing its basically what's holding the shaft in ! Of course with the force of the hub and all it shouldn't pop out, but you never know!

Dsmkauai said:

No c-clip on the drivers side inner shaft, even in my oem book it only shows the passenger side having one. So make sure you put those 2 bolts in and torque to spec for the carrier bearing its basically what's holding the shaft in ! Of course with the force of the hub and all it shouldn't pop out, but you never know!

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Ok I got the axle out so how do I separate it from the carrier bearing?

U have to knock the cup out of the inner shaft. Just look at your new shaft and you will see what needs to be done. Be sure to put the new shaft in the same as the old one, basically make sure it goes in all way to the proper spot. ⬇️ It's the 23 in the picture that needs to be knocked out separated from the inner shaft.

Dsmkauai said:

U have to knock the cup out of the inner shaft. Just look at your new shaft and you will see what needs to be done. Be sure to put the new shaft in the same as the old one, basically make sure it goes in all way to the proper spot. ⬇️ It's the 23 in the picture that needs to be knocked out separated from the inner shaft.

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I have been trying to knock that out of there for an hour now. Any tricks on how it should be done? I've got it all off the car.

I had one stick terribly bad. I beat the living pee pee out of it and it wouldn't budge.
I ended up saying the heck with it and cut the cv boot and yanked the shaft out leaving me with my stuck cup carrier and short shaft.

In the bottom of that cup there is a plug similar to a freeze plug. I just stuck a large punch in there and hammered through the plug (it's thin just like a freeze plug) then I could hit the short shaft and it came right out. Didn't hurt the cup or the shaft.

Has anybody ever left the old cup in the carrier bearing and just replace the axle that way? Taking the cup off the new and just using the old cup?

1BAD98GSX said:

So there is no c-clip on driver side? I have had a few people talk about there being a c-clip.. can anybody else chime in on this?

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The FWD has a c-clip on drivers side but not the AWD.

McDizle said:

No problem! If you ever have any questions just search "jafromobile" on youtube. He has a lot of great videos

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X2 exactly what I was going to post

I'm having this same problem.

Axle is well seized in the hub. I have the hub loose from the knuckle, but unfortunately, it does not fit through the knuckle hole.

Thinking about trying a hub puller, if that will work, to pop the axle out.

To remove the Driver Side Axle. Most of this is from Memory so forgive me.

1. Set E-Brake, Loose lugs on Driver Side, Put Car on stand, ect.
2. You need to have the car high enough to slid under the car and look at the back of the block (intake side). Close to the AC Compressor there will be two bolts that hold the carrier bearing to the block. These bolts are 17MM and a 3/8 Breaker bar and a little bit of love will show them a good time. Once these two bolts are out the carrier bearing should be flopping around and the driver side shaft will have more play in it.
3. While under the car you will be able to wiggle the shaft and pull towards the driver side hub and it should release from the transmission with ease.
4. Slide out from under your car and take the wheel off.
5. Release the ball lower ball joint and take off the axel nut.
6. If the shaft is seized in the hub you can do a few simple things first.
-Use some WD-40 or some other piercing chemical that will make this easier.
-Take the axle nut and tighten it on the axle and loosen it a few times.
-Flip the castle nut and thread it on to give you a flat surface to hit with a hammer. (note: you might need to attach ball joint) and make strong committed taps on the axle to try and release it.
-Use a torch and the method above.
-Cut the shaft, and use the steps above to beat the thing out of there.
-If all else fails you will need to remove the calipers and the hub and pull the shaft out with the hub and replace all of it.
7. Move hub to the side and pull the shaft out of the car using the carrier bearing as a handle.
8. Replace seal for shaft and replace shaft.
Here is a Jafro Video to help you if you dont feel like reading. ( Even linked you to the area in the video where you need to be)
Trans & Clutch 1 - Remove Transmission - YouTube

Do not use the castle nut and hammer to hit the axle out. You will damage and smash the threads easily if not carful!! Only use a dead blow hammer if you wish to avoid damage. I just did my gvr4 in less than 20 min and that thing was the oem shaft and the car was sitting for years and years. Its all about the order you remove things and how you use things to your advantage!