Gen3 passenger driveaxle again

[bobnorth]

Other posts instill fear on attempting the passenger side driveaxle replacement because of the dang center bearing. Never done one, but the economy makes me want to try. I verified with Napa that the passenger side reman is sold as one unit, including the center bearing and shaft past the bearing support mount. Could someone be specific about the center bearing and mount...if the entire assembly is coming out, can't I just unbolt the center support mount and yank? In previous posts most people are having an issue getting the outer halfshaft out of the center bearing. Why would they waste their time if the whole assembly can be replaced? Haynes is crap and I'm not getting something here. Thanks for any input.

[rusty9]

the center support is part of the rear engine mount. im assuming you are talking about the 4 cylinder?

[bobnorth]

Yes...4 cyl '95 Camry. Maybe I misunderstood the Napa dude. So the center support including the bearing does not come out when the outer shaft is removed? Judging by previous posts, that outer shaft is a bear to get out of the bearing housing. In theory, that would seem to be easier. But the manual is pitiful. Thanks.

[Rattlin_Steele]

The engine's rear motor mount bracket serves as the bearing carrier for the passenger axle's center bearing. The bearing is held there by a snap ring and a bolt on the bottom of the bracket. By design you should not have to remove the mount bracket. The bearing (w/ axle) should just slip out once the snap ring and bolt are loosened, assuming you've already freed the outer joint from the wheel hub.

Unfortunately, many people find that their bearing is stuck in the carrier due to corrosion, and if you can't beat it out with a punch/drift or some other method then you have to resort to more drastic measures. One option is to leave the bearing and the inner shaft between the carrier and the differential in place and only replace the outer section of the shaft. The other option is to remove the motor mount bracket together with the entire axle and then free the bearing/axle for the carrier once it's out.

If you haven't already seen them, here are a couple useful threads.

From the pinned DIY thread:
this is a "how to" on replacing the passenger's side CV boots (warning- many photos)
In this one, he doesn't replace the entire passenger axle, only the outer portion, thus he doesn't have to remove the bearing from the mount.


Need help with axles
This one has a youtube video linked where the guy takes out the motor mount with the axle in a rather unique way.

[500KCamry]

The intermediate shaft between the bearing carrier and the transaxle is tapered and wider at its ends. Once you remove the bearing carrier snap ring, and loosen the bolt on the carrier that locks the bearing, you can put a large crescent wrench on the shaft and then strike the wrench towards the passenger wheel. The flare/taper on the shaft won't let the wrench slide into the bearing carrier when you hit it, and the bearing and shaft will come out of the carrier.

Before you put the new shaft back in, use some emery paper and sand the corrosion off of the inside of the bearing carrier. The new shaft will then slide into the carrier without any effort. Notice the shaft splines that enter the transaxle don't have a snap ring that locks it into the transaxle. It is the bearing carrier snap ring that keeps the shaft in the transaxle.