$168 solution to replacing both drive shafts, "quality" circlips?

[bravekozak]

The Ford Festiva shop manual just shows a picture of a large screwdriver used to exert a little force to pop them out. As long as you haven't damaged the little circlip it should come out with the method that getnpsi described. I have never had a problem doing it that way. The goal is to center the circlip.

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

So I took the car to the Ford dealer this a.m.

This afternoon, the service manager called, saying "We've spent two hours on this so far and can't get either driveshaft out."

For an extra hour of labor, I'd also told him to replace both LCAs (I supplied all the parts). He said that the "nutplate" on one of them just spins. I noticed that NAPA supplied a new bolt and nut with each new LCA, so what is he talking about here? Is the nut welded to the chassis and has somehow un-welded itself? I've disassembled enough of these cars that I should remember every detail.

I'm going down there to tomorrow a.m. to see firsthand what's going on.

[Spike]

Almost makes me wonder if just throwing another transmission + those new axles on it would be easier lol.. I think the LCAs have a frame bolt, but I might be wrong.

-Joe

[fastivaca]

LCA's are attached with a bolt and "captive" nut. The nut is inside a welded cage and if that nut is seized on the bolt it will break the welds on the cage.

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

Couldn't the previously-welded "captive" nut be re-welded back into position (after which, appropriate penetrant applied to free up the bolt)? This isn't the rust belt here, so there should be plenty of solid structure remaining to weld to -- all of my Festies are completely rust-free.

Hopefully, I'll get a good look at what's going on in the morning, assuming it's still up on a lift from when they called this afternoon.

[skeeters_keeper]

You can usually wedge a screwdriver under that nut to hold it and then it'll break free (after liberal application of PB) - as long as the bolt isn't rusted inside the sleeve on the LCA.

[Larry Hampton]

Thats what I had to do. ^^^^

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

I went to visit the car at the Ford dealer. They told me they can't pull the axles (due to not having any suitable pullers and having only one pry bar) or spot-weld the LCA nutplate (due to not having any welding equipment). They also said they don't have any manuals for Festivas.

I negotiated the bill, for which I received nothing of value, down to one hour ($112 + tax). This was after demanding that they remove the $9.99 "shop supplies" charge after the cashier said "Oh, that's usually nothing, but we add it to every bill."

I think I've re-learned my lessons from my Fiat 128 days:
1. STAY AWAY FROM DEALERS.
2. If you want it done right (or done at all in cases like this), DO IT YOURSELF.

[SiliconSoul]

Lol... What a joke of a shop. Apparently I either have more supplies than a major auto dealers service bay in my garage, or they didn't want to deal with it. I wouldn't have paid a penny if they were not able to do any of the jobs.

[nc_festiva]

I wouldn't have paid a dime. No service was rendered so no payment... Its like me asking to be paid to cut your yard but I didn't actually cut it because I drove to your house and didn't have the ramps to unload the equipment out of the back of my truck...