What to do when you can't remove your CV Axle

[timmay89]

Hi Everyone,

So Last week Wednesday I went to take out both cv axles and replace them as they were making some bad noises. So I took them out of the hubs and with about 10 minutes of prying the drive side came out. Well the passenger side just wouldn't come out. I tried, and tried, and tried, and tried and I had 2 other friends trying as well. It was in there for good. So what do you do when you need your car back together but don't want to replace your transmission? Here is what I did, and I hope it helps others as well.

I started by removing the inner axle boot. From there I removed the clip holding the axle in inside the cup. I then cleaned out all of the grease within the inner cup. From there I put in some new grease and inserted the new axle minus that cup. I then put the boot back on and re-secured it. So far so good with doing that. I am aware that doing this isn't the best idea, but it worked and if we pried anymore on that tranny it would crack.

So I hope this helps as an option for those with the same difficulty. This is obviously not a first choice option, but it does work.

[DON SVO]

Usually takes 2 people... one guy gets leverage from underneath on the CV at the transmission case with the longest prybar you can find. Other guy will get a BIG punch (chisel types work well for this) and a BFH... place the punch on the trans side of the CV Axle, so that it's aimed at the wheel and as level to the ground as possible while still getting a solid 'bite' on the CV joint. One guy firmly pulls with as much pressure as possible on the pry bar. Don't yank the pry bar, you can very well move the car off the jack stands/lift that way. So basically, the constant outward pressure from the prybar and a couple GOOD whacks on the punch with the BFH should get it out. Rotate the CV and repeat process until it frees itself. it might come out mangled but hey, you got a new CV joint ready to go in, right?

95% sure that the little retaining collar on the CV splines got jacked up (did your trans grenade?) and it's catching on the retainer groove.

[Movin]

Use impact method..big slide hammer or drift and big ball pean.
Hit it like you want to drive that shaft clear across the yard !!
Only have one out at a time.

whups..Don beat me to it. That the same idea!!

[zoom zoom]

Yerp, slide pull hammer, ratchet strap and a couple tugs it'll pop right out every time.

[Rocketman]

Prying on the trans case hard is dangerous and asking for damage. The trans case is very thin around the differential. The best bet is to use the stock knuckle/rotor as a slide hammer, it uses the play in the CV to slide a bit. Worst case, use a little pressure at the trans end.

Often times having someone pull on the knuckle while you tap gently on the inner CV will free up all but the most stubborn c-clips.

And as others have noted - only pull one axle at a time. It's too easy to dump the spiders into the case

[DON SVO]

Prying on the trans case hard is dangerous and asking for damage. The trans case is very thin around the differential.

Definitely, it's another reason I made sure to say use steady, firm pressure and don't jerk on it. The punch should be the 'shock'. I've got a cracked trans case in my garage currently!

Some folks don't have slide hammers

[Rocketman]

Some folks don't have slide hammers

The best bet is to use the stock knuckle/rotor as a slide hammer, it uses the play in the CV to slide a bit

The Capri FSM actually says to use this method for removing axles

[georgeb]

I had to remove the innards from the inner joint like you did but then I hooked a slide hammer to a 2-jaw puller which was clamped to the remains of the inner joint and got it out that way.

[nonamekid]

This is the best tool to use in your situation:


Can be bought here:
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

It slides through the transmission where the other cv shaft was. Slight tap and the axle is out.

You can cheat and use a long screwdriver to do the same thing.

[timmay89]

I like that tool alot. I did read through all of the methods of how to remove the cv axle, but I was giving another solution for those who try try and try and can't get the axle out.

Thanks for the other input.

[zoom zoom]

Prying on the trans case hard is dangerous and asking for damage. The trans case is very thin around the differential. The best bet is to use the stock knuckle/rotor as a slide hammer, it uses the play in the CV to slide a bit. Worst case, use a little pressure at the trans end.

Often times having someone pull on the knuckle while you tap gently on the inner CV will free up all but the most stubborn c-clips.

And as others have noted - only pull one axle at a time. It's too easy to dump the spiders into the case

I've ripped 2 inner cv's apart doing that lol..

[Grey Vw]

I use a cold chisel. Not saying it's the right way but it's what I do when a pry bar or yanking isn't cutting it.

[Movin]

If you need to shear a snap-ring.. you need at a one inch drift and a big hammer
to get it done. Special Snap-on tool, that would be awesome too. 2nd person prying,
pulling and guiding, is good. strap holding and applying tension, really good. The
bottom line is the inner cv knuckle needs hard repetitive impacts until the shaft
comes out. Rotate to cut through the ring if its not in its groove. Do not be gentle
with the hammer, Do be gentle with the case and wedging or prying efforts. A drift
is a round solid stock of mild steel or brass cut to appropriate length. I like about
18" for this type of action.

[GenevaDirt]

never had one not come out yet. The hardest one I had I used a method I read on here and it popped real easy....use a pry bar between the case and axle and apply pressure but not enough to crack the case of course. While doing that , tap on the inner hub of the axle with a 3 pound sledge....only took a couple of seconds when I had already tried all other (except a slide bar) methods. No extra person necessary.

[bravekozak]

I tried to pry it, but went to the FF.com knowledge base. Apply some pressure with a large screwdriver and tap gently and continuously like a woodpecker (probably about ten to twenty times) with a small hammer on the inner CV housing. It will pop out like butter, with hardly any effort. I was amazed. You will be too. Brute force, multiple prybars and slide hammers are totally unecessary.