Front half Shaft Replacement

[IN2FORD]

I am getting some vibration from the front left and I noticed this weekend, when I grabed the front shaft, there is some back and forth movement in the shaft. I am guessing it is time to replace. Is this a big job or an easy job? What's involved?

By the way I installed the Transgo shift kit....it is a much needed improvement! It shifts like it should have from the beginning!

IN2FORD
Barry

 

[TarHeel085]

to me it was a pain in the arse, but if you can do your brakes you should easily be able to do this, just make sure you have a 32mm spindle nut socket or your SOL and also a LONG breaker bar for more leverage!

*EDIT*the shafts are supposed to have a little play in them but not a lot.

 

[Sherwood]

But how do you pull the whole axle out of the diff? My Haynes manual says to pry it out with a pry bar. Then later in the section it says to drop the diff. I was all kinds of confused on that one. I am currently redoing my front end. Putting Superlift steering knuckles on mine and swapping out the passenger axle with a new one. Boot strap fell off long ago and didnt have the money to repair it. Now I'm just going to replace the whole axle. Never had to pull one off before.

 

[KPT]

I just grab the CV close to the diff and yank hard. If that doesn't work you can take a big flathead screwdriver and pry the CV away from the diff. Just be careful you don't screw up the seal.

 

[Sherwood]

Oh, so you dont have to crack open the front diff huh? Thats cool. Its just held in by a c-clip right? It says in the book to replace the c-clip when installing. What got me confused was when it says to unbolt the front diff from the truck and hold it up with jack stands after you have pulled the shaft. Dont know why. Thats why I was asking. Thanks a lot for the response. I was just working on it today too. Not on the side that needs the shaft replaced though. Just gonna have to wait until after the wedding. Thanks again for the help. Eric

 

[KPT]

Yeah both sides are held in by c-clips. On the drivers side the c-clip is on the halfshaft. Passenger side c-clip is in the diff. Don't see how its possible to replace that one without totally dissasembling the diff.

 

[section525]

Mine didn't have any c-clips. Just take TarHeel's nut off, remove the knuckle, and the shaft slides right out. You don't have to mess with the differential at all... or any c-clips. At least when I did mine.

 

[Jefe]

This should help a lot:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53863

Also, the axle shafts are NOT held in by c-clips (where you have to open the diff, remove the c-clip and then you can pull the axle). They are circlips. Just give the axle a nice tug (or pry) and it'll come out. Yes, you should replace the circlip after you've had the axle apart, but new half-axles come with new circlips (at least all mine did).

 

[KPT]

Yeah brainfart. I was thinking circlips, don't know why I typed c-clips.

 

[Sherwood]

me too, i know what i was thinking not what i was typing. Thats cool though. It was bad enough to have to drop the front diff when installing the lift let alone doing it over again. Does the new axle shafts come with new axle shaft hub nut?

 

[Jefe]

Does the new axle shafts come with new axle shaft hub nut?

Depends on the manufacturer I think. I found that the ford hub nut is a better design (combination nut/washer) than most aftermarket though.

 

[Sherwood]

cool. I bought one anyways but was just curious. I appreciate everyones help. Sure makes things much easier when you know what your getting into beforehand. Thanks again, Eric