clips on the axles

[Damkid]

i was makin an attempt to pull my axles today and of course they didn't want to come out cause of the clips in the tranny

my question is, whenever i get the axles out, do i need to keep the clips on the axles? and if i do take them off, will it hurt the spider gears in any way?

[wrestler3025]

Yes you need the clips on the end of the axles. This is what keeps the axles in the tranny. If you take the clips off they will not stay inside of the tranny.

[skeeters_keeper]

^^X2. the clips don't make it that hard to get the axle out, you just have to give it a quick tug, not a steady pull. it should pop out, if not rea-attach the hub and use that for leverage.


those clips are almost impossible to find around here, don't break them!

[Damkid]

thats what i thought,

i was just frustrated because when i yanked on the axle i pulled the inside CV joint apart and now have to put it back together

[gdawgs]

You don't pull the axle out by yanking on it. You pry it out with a prybar between the transmission housing and the axle. They don't always come easy this way either though.

[festivaWES]

On the festiva giving it one good tug anyways poppped it out of the input of the transmission easily for me. I'll always use that method. I usually take the ring clip off and bent it a littel tighter witha pair of pliers and put it back on in closer tolererances. I can't see how a axel can pop out if it is fully installed and the axel nut socket is torqued to spec.

[Damkid]

actually i like that idea of taken them off and tightening them, i think i will do that

Thanks

[smokin fastiva]

dont pry too hard against the tranny case. i was using a lady foot to get an axle out and put a hole right in the side of it. needless to say i was pissed

[Damkid]

i've put a hole in a tranny from prying on it as well, because the clips were holdin the axle in, thats why i don't pry on it until i have no other choice

[wrestler3025]

This is what I suggested to another member last year about this time.
"Here is the easiest way to get that stubborn driver side CV axle out. I used a Craftsman 3/4 x 6-1/2 in. Cold Chisel Sears item #00942975000 Mfr. model #42975. It has the 42975 part number on the chisel.
Anyway, I have done quite a few festiva CV axles, and found this is the best way to get them out. Just place the chisel through the hole in the cross brace (where you drain your tranny) between the CV axle and the tranny. I use a 3lb sledge, and in one or two swings the axle pops right out. The chisel does not give AT ALL!! Some of the other pry bars will bend with all of the pressure that you apply to them and the axle still won't budge. This will certainly make your life MUCH easier. Let us know how it goes."

[25Horseplay]

A slide hammer with a hook works well to!

[Damkid]

i did get the axle out, on my first attempt i actually pulled the shaft out of the inner CV joint (and they're basically brand new so it pissed me off)

so i just undid the CV boot to take the majority of the axle out, so i could at least get the motor and tranny out (droppin in a BP, just realized i haven't mentioned that) once the motor and tranny were on the cherry picker, i had to resort to prying on the CV joint and it popped out of the tranny, then i had to put the CV joint back on the axle shaft and i managed to save the axle, even though i won't be re-using it.

i hope the rest of the project isn't that much of a headache over something that should be easy, which i'm sure it will be

thanks for all the input by the way