Possible for Axle to separate inside boot?

[lil corb]

I am finishing up my tranny install again and as we installed the passenger side axle I noticed where the shaft inserts the inner boot it looks off centered and lower then where it suppose to be. My friend says its a possibility the axle bearing separated itself from the inside even without the boot being ripped at all.

Now the axle spins fine with the hub and where it meets the tranny it spins fine too in synch, there are no weird noises at all, but where the shaft enters the inner boot by the tranny side looks off centered and to lower. I have a pic attached.

Is it possible the axle did separate itself from the inside during install? and if so is it fixable or should I get another one?

If I do have to remove it again how in the hell can I get the passenger side axle out??? The only method that works is while removing the Trans, separate it from the block to gain enough clearance to pop it out. With everything bolted on it's IMPOSSIBLE to get it to pop with the clearance there?? Any tips? I have read everything from using a worm clamp from an intercooler, using a shall socket for leverage to using a screwdriver and hammering it from the bottom. ( I tore my axle seal last time trying this)

Here are some pics, any ideas!

Thanks

 

[Dude McGee]

When I remove the axle, an air hammer with the weld breaker type tip CAREFULLY applied where the axle and trans join (the flat area on the axle end) vibrates it enough to get it started, then after theres a gap a prybar from above will finish the job. be carefull with the air hammer, though, seriously, you can ruin a boot or seal real fast if it slips.

Or a slide hammer.

I think if you pop it out and it moves freely and not out of the ordinary, it "should" be fine, but Im not 100% sure whats going on there, either, so further investigation would be needed.

 

[lil corb]

When I remove the axle, an air hammer with the weld breaker type tip CAREFULLY applied where the axle and trans join (the flat area on the axle end) vibrates it enough to get it started, then after theres a gap a prybar from above will finish the job. be carefull with the air hammer, though, seriously, you can ruin a boot or seal real fast if it slips.

Or a slide hammer.

I think if you pop it out and it moves freely and not out of the ordinary, it "should" be fine, but Im not 100% sure whats going on there, either, so further investigation would be needed.

Would you say that doesn't look normal? Thanks for the tips.

 

[Dude McGee]

It does look like the axle is at an excessive angle. Where the steering/susp. components bolted back up in the pic or were the knuckles just hanging?

If everything was bolted up Id say it looks odd. I even went and checked the photo to my car and the boot in your pic looks flexed.

I hope someone on here can provide you a 100% answer, all I can say is it looks odd to me.

 

[lil corb]

It does look like the axle is at an excessive angle. Where the steering/susp. components bolted back up in the pic or were the knuckles just hanging?

If everything was bolted up Id say it looks odd. I even went and checked the photo to my car and the boot in your pic looks flexed.

I hope someone on here can provide you a 100% answer, all I can say is it looks odd to me.

Yea, everything was bolted up. Appreciate your input, I figured it does look odd.

Any other ideas?

Thanks

 

[SrKegler]

Jack the front end up and spin the wheel. If it's not right you will feel the clunking if it isn't correct.

 

[evileclipse909]

just feel around the boot. You should be able to feel if the inner discs are inside the cup or not. If the axle came out of the inner cup you can usually just finess it a little to line it back up and get it back in.

 

[lil corb]

Jack the front end up and spin the wheel. If it's not right you will feel the clunking if it isn't correct.

That's the thing, there is clunking or weird noise or anything. Everything spins fine which makes me think that something is physically wrong.

just feel around the boot. You should be able to feel if the inner discs are inside the cup or not. If the axle came out of the inner cup you can usually just finess it a little to line it back up and get it back in.

Is that something that I can do by just unbolting the hub side?

 

[boost97gst]

I was pulling out of my driveway and cut the wheel sharply. Heard the nastiest grinding. Outter cv boot was still in tact but it decoupled itslef. It was just old. New one fixed it and never had the problem again. Old worn axles can do some weird things. That was a first for me, never seen it happen like that when everythings put together correctly

 

[lil corb]

More pictures. Mind you the car is on jackstands on the front now but I raised the hub with a jack to simulate it being on the ground and the angle didn't change much. I also tried to feel for anything loose in the inner boot and nothing at all that I could feel.

 

[lil corb]

After showing several car knowledgable people including techs, the general consensus is the axle is fine. Just looks funny from the angle it's at now. Nothing feels out of the ordinary in the boot and no odd noise or vibration when spinning.

Thanks everyone and I will let you all know if it isn't and something happens