CV and Axle Replacement 91 Festiva.

[mhstark]

Slowly the CV noise had crept in and now it was time. I elected to replace the axle for $59.00 as many of you have also done. Passanger side, so I removed the wheel to get it out of the way.



Now the unusual takes place, I could not snap out the axle from the tranny. I snapped and pulled, this would not budge. I began to think it had a lock ring on it instead of the snap ring. But upon checking here on the fourm again. I determined it just must need more encourgment. So I rigged up a RG to do the job.
A trailer hitch (for mass), and 16" of chain to provide the shock like a slide hammer, and a short piece of rigid pipe to fit over the axle. While trying to remove it from the tranny I snapped out the CV spline nearest the wheel. So I rigged the pipe on to the axle near the ridge where the boot sets.


It took 4 or 5 Progressively stronger snaps on the chain to finaly pop it out.
I must confess I was wondering if it was going to work or not. A real tough removal but it did snap out. This message is for any one who is having problems removing the axle easil. IT DOES SNAP OUT AS PROMISED just maybe a tough one like the one I just finished.

[yblock]

had same problem on mine. something in the tranny had spun on the axle. Installed the new axle an it slipped right in gave it alittle jerk an it popped right out. 2 weeks later started poppin again. was gonna take it back to part's store for a replacement it would not come out.it's still in it layin in the back of another car. new tranny new axle no poppin.

[mhstark]

You thoughts on the problem

Any ideas what caused the problem between the two? Kind of smells like the tranny was stripping the axle splines. What was your thinking?
Marv

had same problem on mine. something in the tranny had spun on the axle. Installed the new axle an it slipped right in gave it alittle jerk an it popped right out. 2 weeks later started poppin again. was gonna take it back to part's store for a replacement it would not come out.it's still in it layin in the back of another car. new tranny new axle no poppin.

[88FestivaLX]

Could you explain more about how you attached everything to the axle. I'm having the same problem with my drivers side one!

[jglutz]

The difficulty may ahve been caused by previous service.

When the axle is removed extreme care must be taken when removing the circ-clip. If the circ-clip is over expanded during removal or reinstallation...it will be over expanded when re-installed making compresion of such and removal very difficult.

If I ever have the circ-clip off. I recompress it and slide it on exercising exteme care to only slide it over the spline never expandind it. Once in place...i might even compress it a little smaller. When in place it only needs to obtruct the roots of the splines not be near the peaks.

[mhstark]

Could you explain more about how you attached everything to the axle. I'm having the same problem with my drivers side one!

Let me look for a picture.... makes it easier to explain.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/...f8721cf4_b.jpg
I drilled the hole in the pipe so that the 1/4" pin fit tight to the axle when driven in with a hammer.

I welded the old axle nut into the pipe end to make the axle remover. good use for the old nut!
Try and get the pin into the crease in the axle or behind it.
picture:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/...9bc2afe7_o.jpg

Next Picture:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/...02b908ae_o.jpg
one more shot:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/...d9085daf_o.jpg

On the driver side axle it was different. and required another solution. The CV next to the tranny pulled off and left the bearing cup still up in the transmission.
More pictures of the puller I made and used to remove it:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/...67104d50_o.jpg
next:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/...fb167842_o.jpg

I made this out of the flower bed edging metal about .080 thick. Easy to cut with the Beverly sheer and it can be bent to shape cold.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/...072dc8dc_b.jpg
Hope this helps if this is not all clear e-mail me. Glad to help if I can.
Marv

[mhstark]

Good point

The difficulty may ahve been caused by previous service.

When the axle is removed extreme care must be taken when removing the circ-clip. If the circ-clip is over expanded during removal or reinstallation...it will be over expanded when re-installed making compresion of such and removal very difficult.

If I ever have the circ-clip off. I recompress it and slide it on exercising exteme care to only slide it over the spline never expandind it. Once in place...i might even compress it a little smaller. When in place it only needs to obtruct the roots of the splines not be near the peaks.

Joe,
You got your finger on it OK, if the man installing the axle diddles the clip and gets it expanded a little then we who follow will be @#$*# at him.
Marv

[88FestivaLX]

Thanks! I really appreciate it. I just put it all back together last night with the old axle until I could figure something out. I put new control arms/ball joints, end links and swaybar bushings on it. The steering is def tighter, but my steering wheel shake is still there! It feels horrible. I'm guessing one of the tires is starting to break down or there's a messed up bearing or something. I have a new set of tires for it, but I don't want to put them on until all the suspension/steering parts are good so I did get any weird wear on my new tires. I hope to get it back on the road sometime soon....Driving the Mustang 75 miles round trip to work everyday is costing too much money, ha.

[mhstark]

Thanks! I really appreciate it. I just put it all back together last night with the old axle until I could figure something out. I put new control arms/ball joints, end links and swaybar bushings on it. The steering is def tighter, but my steering wheel shake is still there! It feels horrible. I'm guessing one of the tires is starting to break down or there's a messed up bearing or something. I have a new set of tires for it, but I don't want to put them on until all the suspension/steering parts are good so I did get any weird wear on my new tires. I hope to get it back on the road sometime soon....Driving the Mustang 75 miles round trip to work everyday is costing too much money, ha.

I hope the pictures made it clear what was being used and how. Let me know if you do not have the materials needed to make the puller. we'll work something out.
I'm working on the festy fuel system, the math says it so be able to get 68 MPG city and 73 freeway. I'll let you know how it goes in a few weeks. The muscle car is fun to drive but tough on the back pocket these days.
Marv

[rbrown]

Let me look for a picture.... makes it easier to explain.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/...f8721cf4_b.jpg
I drilled the hole in the pipe so that the 1/4" pin fit tight to the axle when driven in with a hammer.

I welded the old axle nut into the pipe end to make the axle remover. good use for the old nut!
Try and get the pin into the crease in the axle or behind it.
picture:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/...9bc2afe7_o.jpg

Next Picture:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/...02b908ae_o.jpg
one more shot:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/...d9085daf_o.jpg

On the driver side axle it was different. and required another solution. The CV next to the tranny pulled off and left the bearing cup still up in the transmission.
More pictures of the puller I made and used to remove it:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/...67104d50_o.jpg
next:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/...fb167842_o.jpg

I made this out of the flower bed edging metal about .080 thick. Easy to cut with the Beverly sheer and it can be bent to shape cold.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/...072dc8dc_b.jpg
Hope this helps if this is not all clear e-mail me. Glad to help if I can.
Marv

Us Texas boys sure are resourceful. Awesome work.

[mhstark]

Us Texas boys sure are resourceful. Awesome work.

Thanks,
I do backyard metal casting, metal fabrication, metal spinning and machinist work so I can cover a lot of ground if something is needed to do an odd job. For the past 10 years I buy less and less products and make more and more of what I need. It get to be a way of life....

Not long ago I had a hand crank on a workmate brake so I cast a new one that was much stronger to fix the problem picture below:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/...4b6031ca_o.jpg
Marv

[worfdog]

Thats a nice looking, heavy duty handle.

[rbrown]

Thats a nice looking, heavy duty handle.

No kidding.

I need to start learning to weld better. My cracker box blew holes too easily so I sold it and then got me a wire feed. It was stolen and I have not replaced it.

I want to do some aluminum welding so I think a Tig is in the cards.

[mhstark]

Heavy duty Handle

Thats a nice looking, heavy duty handle.

Wolfdog,
Yep now that one won't give away when tightening, looks better too.
I used the ZA-27 Alloy to cast it from. The ZA-27 alloy is 71% AL, 2% copper and the rest (27%) is Zinc. Corrosion resistant, tensile strength approaching cast iron, machines and polished nicely, and melts @ around 1000ºF. Its a very good alloy for back yard casting of metal objects.
Marv

[mhstark]

Welding

No kidding.

I need to start learning to weld better. My cracker box blew holes too easily so I sold it and then got me a wire feed. It was stolen and I have not replaced it.

I want to do some aluminum welding so I think a Tig is in the cards.

Rodney,
Tig is the ticket, but the bucks are big to get on board with it. So maybe you had it right with the mig machine for home shop use. To bad some varmint stole your rig.
I prefer gas welding for light metals up to 3/16" but it is tricky on Aluminum (up to that size) to say the least.
Marv