Issue with replacing front left axle

[AlphaAssault]

I am replacing the axle because the CV joint has seized, and I have a question about where Im at. Ill attach a pic so you know what Im talking about. I got the pic from the vfaq, so just ignore the purple circle. What I am wanting to know is how to remove the axle from the part that goes into the tranny. The joint I have boxed in green is where I am trying to separate the two pieces. Does the axle just slide away from the piece thats in the transmission? I havnt removed the right half from the transmission, and the axle doesnt seem to want to come out. Should I tap it with a hammer a few times to loosen it up or what?

 

[SexyDSM95]

You take a hammer and either a breaker bar or long flat head and just hammer into it.

 

[AlphaAssault]

man, im pissed. that thing wont budge. also, when i pulled on the shaft, it felt like something separated inside the inner boot. now, when i pull on it, the boot stretches, but i cant pull the rest of the axle free of the spindle. I dont have a large screw driver, just a few smaller ones. im running out of ideas. help?

 

[outkastracing]

dont pull to hard if you do then youll pull the axle out of its socket... those are just male and female splines should just come apart you need a big big hammer and something to pry with... it will go....

 

[AlphaAssault]

Ive found a crowbar, and am trying to pry it by hand, and it just isnt coming out. I can see it move a little each time I try and pry, but it doesnt move out. Its really frustrating, because once I get this out, im home free.

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

I know it may be hard to do, but if at all possible try to get on opposite sides with a couple of screwdrivers. If you pry on just one side it won't let it come out sometimes. But if you can get on opposite sides it will come out easier.

 

[Ravenous]

If you have tie rod fork that, that also helps. I had this same problem, and like grave digger said it is easier if you can get on both sides, I think that is why I had good luck with the fork. I used it as a pry bar, not like you would on a tie rod.

 

[knochgoon24]

i took one off the back of my AWD. it seemed like it wouldn't budge then it just popped out. I used a few screw drivers and pried around it.

 

[jongreene]

Air hammer.....takes like 20 seconds each side.

 

[AlphaAssault]

I tried tying some line to the axle, at the same spot where I have been trying to pry, and attached those lines to the tow hooks of another vehicle. We proceeded to try and 'tow' the axle out. We broke the 300lb line before concluding that the pulling with another vehicle wasnt working. This job doesnt seem like it should be this difficult. to complicate things, the apartment is going to tow my car if i dont move it by the 4th!!! Am i doing something wrong here? Surely 300+ lbs of force would be enough to loosen that thing. Im running out of ideas! i cant use any long bars because im just using jack stands to get under the thing, so leverage is at a minimum. Im in serious need of some assistance here.

 

[Simpleman1]

I had the same problem last year. The rubber boot on mine was torn already, so I just pulled the cv joint apart leaving the housing stuck to the inner shaft. I took it to my work and used the hydrolic press which read around 500 PSI before the inner shaft slid out.

 

[AlphaAssault]

Humm, I might have to do that, though I dont have access to a hydraulic press. I have a few more things I want to try tomorrow, but if it comes to it I might have to pull the inner boot and drive without power to that wheel. Where would be a good place to take it to have that axle removed? Im thinking a garage would cost me an arm and a leg... well crap.

 

[nfinkbe]

i had this same problem and someone told me to tap on the axle while you are prying it. I did it and it seemed to work. The reason its probably not coming off is because of a c clip on the axle spline, so i guess hitting the axle while prying might help that little booger come off. At least it helped with me.

 

[AlphaAssault]

After several more unsuccessful attempts, I have decided Im going to take it in and use a hydraulic press to get it out. If I pull the inner CV joint apart, will that result in a greasy mess everywhere?

Also, would your typical machine shop be able to pull the inner part of the axle out for a fair price, or would I have better luck at a local auto repair place?

What is involved with using a hydraulic press to remove the axle? Would we have to pull any other parts to get the axle out, i.e. the oil pan or anything?

Finally, are there any other possible options for getting this thing out?

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

I am looking this thing over again and I appologize, but I didn't fully understand your first post. I hope this may help you. The part that goes into the transaxle is the intermediate shaft. The driveaxle and the intermediate shaft have to be removed as a single assembly, then seperated. You need to remove the two intermediate shaft bearing bolts and lightly tap on the bracket with a hammer. The whole assembly should just come out of the transaxle. Be sure to put a drain pan underneath to catch any trans fluid. Now you can take the whole assembly somewhere if need be and get this thing apart. You should also check the intermediate shaft bearing at this time to see if it might need replaced. Hopefully this can help you get this thing up and running.

 

[AlphaAssault]

I am looking this thing over again and I appologize, but I didn't fully understand your first post. I hope this may help you. The part that goes into the transaxle is the intermediate shaft. The driveaxle and the intermediate shaft have to be removed as a single assembly, then seperated. You need to remove the two intermediate shaft bearing bolts and lightly tap on the bracket with a hammer. The whole assembly should just come out of the transaxle. Be sure to put a drain pan underneath to catch any trans fluid. Now you can take the whole assembly somewhere if need be and get this thing apart. You should also check the intermediate shaft bearing at this time to see if it might need replaced. Hopefully this can help you get this thing up and running.

I found instructions that outline removing the outer axle without removing the transaxle. While you can take the two parts as one, the axle should just slide out of the transaxle without removing the transaxle from the transmission. What has everyone else who has been replying to this post been talking about? have yall been talking about removing the transaxle from the transmission, or the axle from the transaxle?

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

I think you might be getting confused. The transmission and the transaxle are the same thing. A transaxle is what a transmission is actually called in a front/all wheel drive car because there is differential contained within the transmission. So just remove the axle along with the intermediate shaft from the transaxle or transmission, whichever you prefer to call it. Then try to seperate the axleshaft from the intermediate shaft. Just remember the transaxle and transmission are one and the same and no you don't have to remove it to get the axle out.

 

[eagletalonjohn]

put a pry bar in where the 2 axles meet.and just put some force in to it. it should only take 20-30 seconds. they are like pressed in there it feels like. you might have to do it a couple times.good luck