CV Shaft.

[Doug]

Im swapping out my front axle for a new one and i was just wondering if im gonna need to pull my spindles off to do it? Id like to avoid doing that if possible. Ive also noticed you need a special tool to pull the inside cv shaft. do you really need it or can you just pull it out?

 

[Doug]

any one? any one?

 

[97emerald]

I haven't pulled the axles out of my x yet, but it seems to be the same setup as front wheel drive cars. I have always used a pry bar to pop the inner shaft out. Just be careful to not damage the seals. It might be agood time to replace them anyway. As far as the axle goes, I assume you want to swap out the center section. I would think you could lower the center section a little, then pop out the inner cv shafts without removing the spindles or outer cv shafts. Just my opinion. I've never actually done it.

 

[Doug]

It was almost easier than i made it out to be. I swapped out my axle with little trouble. The CV shafts pop right out of the axle. There isnt any thing holding them in. I had to undo the top ball joint so the knuckle fell away enough for me to get the cv out of the axle. The only thing that really gave me trouble was the new cv boot strap. The ones i got didnt work to well so theyre held on with zipties right now. Ill have to find an automotive store thats open on a sunday that has boot clamps.

 

[zekex2]

Obviously you didn't follow the Haynes directions. I tried that (following the book ) and after an hour or so got PO'ed and did what you did. not to hard.

 

[Doug]

LOL yeah I looked at a haynes and chiltons manual and i couldnt figure out wtf was going on. They kept talking about removing a retainer ring that needed to be replaced. After i talked to a friend of mine who is doing a sas on his 98 explorer i figured out those instructions are for removing the axle shaft from everything else. I got my new axle (with 4.10s!) in and now all i gotta do is regear the back.