Help with removing driver side cv axle - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

ctd2001 · 04-03-2011, 07:57 PM

I am trying to replace the axle shaft seal on my 96 camry on the drivers side. Two weeks ago i replaced both the drivers and passengers side cv axles. I over looked the seal at the time

and noticed over the weekend that it was leaking. Thought, no big deal, went to napa and got a seal, pulled it all apart, then spent 4 hours trying to get the axle out with no luck at all.

The new axle that i put it was a brand new one and the crappy thing about it is that there is no "ears" on the cup where it goes into the differential. There is now way to get any leaverage what so ever on it. The old axle had the "ears" and i was able to put a whale jaw style pair of vice grips on it and bang it out, wont work on this new axle, because there is no place for the vice grips to sit. Any tricks that anyone can share on getting this thing out? Ive put a exhaust clamp around it so i have something to get leaverage on it but its not enough. Thanks in advance

71Corolla · 04-03-2011, 08:07 PM

Which engine?

***Mister_Perkins*** · 04-03-2011, 08:09 PM

Rent a slide hammer with a CV-Adapter

ctd2001 · 04-03-2011, 08:09 PM

4 cylinder

71Corolla · 04-03-2011, 08:12 PM

I've always just pulled out the axle by hand, a fast, sharp movement overcomes the snap ring. Did the new axle go in easily?

edit - snap ring not circlip.

***Mister_Perkins*** · 04-03-2011, 08:13 PM

Thats how i pull mine too, But sometimes axles can be stubborn. It's always nice to have a tool like that because when you get in a situation where you cant pull the old axle out, you just slide that around the end, give it a few Whaps and its out.

71Corolla · 04-03-2011, 08:19 PM

I wish I had one of those slide hammers, could have used it many times. But I don't think there is anywhere to use it on the drivers side, could be wrong. Either way, there is no reason the axle should not come out, the only thing holding it is the snap ring and any friction related to the spline.

BTW, the seal might not need to be replaced, often what happens when pulling out the old axle is the seal spring gets dislodged, check that before going through the hassle of replacing the seal.

***Mister_Perkins*** · 04-03-2011, 08:22 PM

yeah when your working in a fast pace environment, you generally dont even try to remove the axles by hand because its a lot faster and easier to use a slide hammer. Theres enough room to fit that slide hammer in there though. And if theres not, and you have a threaded slide hammer, you can always get an Extension bar for the end. Threads right on

71Corolla · 04-03-2011, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister_Perkins

And if theres not, and you have a threaded slide hammer, you can always get an Extension bar for the end. Threads right on

Never thought of that. Cool.

ctd2001 · 04-03-2011, 08:30 PM

When I Put the new axle in, it went it relatively easy. I just gave it a couple taps on the end with a hammer and it slid right in. I'm afraid to pull on it to try to remove it because I'm afraid of dislodging the innner cv joint. I can move it back and forth about a quarter inch. I can pull it out towards me and then i feel the circlip catch. Im not sure how the slid hammer can work on the drivers side. Maybe it can but I don't see how because I have that attachment thats on the end of the hammer in the picture and it won't fit any where. Is there another attachment that would work? Thanks

71Corolla · 04-03-2011, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctd2001

I'm afraid to pull on it to try to remove it because I'm afraid of dislodging the innner cv joint.

I'm no driveline expert, but I don't think you can dislodge the joint by pulling on it, the only way to have the joint fall apart is to compress it too much.

***JohnGD*** · 04-04-2011, 12:45 AM

I wonder if he meant the inner joint (tripod coming out of the tulip).

If so be careful so the tripod doesn't come out of the tulip cup on the inner joint. You can try rotating the halfshaft 120 degrees and pull again. This is to try to position the circlip open side down.

Or check your local Autozone Free Loaner program. Look for Slide Hammer OEM27033:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ino...llersUniversal

and Axle Puller Adapter OEM27058
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ino...t=wheelAndAxle

The adapter slips between the tulip cup and the differential. That's where you can stick a pry bar too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctd2001

When I Put the new axle in, it went it relatively easy. I just gave it a couple taps on the end with a hammer and it slid right in. I'm afraid to pull on it to try to remove it because I'm afraid of dislodging the innner cv joint. I can move it back and forth about a quarter inch. I can pull it out towards me and then i feel the circlip catch. Im not sure how the slid hammer can work on the drivers side. Maybe it can but I don't see how because I have that attachment thats on the end of the hammer in the picture and it won't fit any where. Is there another attachment that would work? Thanks

ghettosled · 04-04-2011, 12:37 PM

if you are really in a pinch, you can always grind a couple of flat spots with ears into the axle shaft.

ctd2001 · 04-04-2011, 03:51 PM

I got the axle out, PITA. I didnt like the new axle from the day i took it out of the box, but said the heck with it. Anyways, i put the new seal in, my next question is. The little circlip on the end of the axle, does it serve a purpose besides preventing the axle from coming out when there is nothing attached to it? I cant see that it does anything more then this and i want to remove it if for some reason i need to disassemble it again. Thanks for the advice.

71Corolla · 04-04-2011, 05:55 PM

The snap ring keeps the axle from floating around, don't remove it!