CV boots of my 96 Camry V6 got some cracks (not broken) and I
was planning changing them.
One side (driver side) finally broke right after I finished preparation and bought the new
boots.
So, yesterday, I spent a good 4-5 hours changing just one side. I found
a few things interesting:
Supposed hard part:
Removing the lock nut -- I found it is not hard at all. I used a two-foot breaker bar
and it seems an over kill. It might be the nut was loose?
Removing the CV axle from steering knockle -- I found it is not hard. I used a piece
of hard wood and a normal hammer. Just tapped it and it
went out easily.
Supposed not too hard part:
Removing 6 bolts between inner CV joint and the drive shaft -- I found it is very hard.
Those bolts are VERY tight. My breaker bar actually got good
use here.
Separating/installing ball joint from/to LCA -- Man, I must have done something incorrectly.
I managed separating them ok using pry bars. BUT, putting them
together is HARD. If you use pry bars to pry ball joint to make it
stay high and move over to the LCA, you pry bar itself blocks the
way. I try to pry the LCA down, but there is no proper leverage
point on the car to do that. I ended up using my jack to raise
the steering knockle and push it over to the LCA. It is still too hard.
How you guys did it???
Should I release the two bolts on the strut instead of releasing
ball joint from LCA???
You comments are very welcome since I still need to do the other side
.
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