circlip?

[defprun]

Would you or WOULDN'T you run a circlip on your c/v axles and why?

[htchbck]

Absolutely WOULD... is this supposed to be some kind of trick question?

The circlip is the only thing that holds the inner CV joint in place. While its true that there isn't enough play in the axles for the inner splines to become disengaged from the trans, it can very easily move out far enough that the sealing face on the inner cup is no longer mated with the output shaft seal, leaking all your trans fluid onto the ground.

[defprun]

Wasnt supposed to be trick or troll just wondering because I goshdarn hate them. Goshdarn.

[drddan]

WOULD


Gosh Darn!

Finesse .... is the key.

Half a dozen axle pulls and everyone came out easily. Treat it firmly and gently.

Become one with the circlip, understand the circlip, and it will bow to you and release itself!

[Hot_Wheels]

some can be a pita. Just make sure its not overly bent.

[drddan]

Also, after I remove an axle, I smash the circlip slightly smaller, before re-installing, so it doesnt stick out as much.

I'll give you method that makes it easier, I work with different sizes of circlips on tools I build at work.

A circlip is a piece of wire that is bent to make a circle. It is open on one end. The key to removing anything held in place by a circlip ...is that opening in the circlip.
The opening is like 2 legs in a way. The opening (legs) need to be the side that is sticking out of the groove that it sits in. The opening is what collapses and allows the circlip to collapse into the groove, and allow the axle (or any shaft) to be removed.
Since you cant see the circlip, as it is inside the tranny when trying to remove the axle, you need to "FIND" the opening ...by feel.
I do this by using the axle itself, as a sort of "slide" hammer ... this is where the firmly and gently comes into play!

I firmly and gently "tap" against the circlip, with the axle, while slowly turning the axle, as I tap.
What I am feeling for, is the circlip opening to be on the bottom of the axle, as it sits in the tranny, letting gravity hold the opening to where it is sticking out of the groove on the axle.
This allows for the "legs" of the opening to be compressed and collapse in the groove and let the axle slide out.
It is very important that you support the weight of the axle while doing the turning/tapping with the axle, to keep it from binding itself on the splines/
I start off very easy with the tapping, getting a little harder as I turn the axle, until it hits the "sweet spot" and collapse's the circlip and the axle pops out so easily it sometimes makes me fall backwards!

[Tommychu]

None, I'd rather they did it Eldorado/Toronado-style with stub shafts coming out of the diff, that had flanges where you bolted your CVs on.
Heavy and overcomplicated? sure, but you don't need a reciprocating press to do CVs.

[defprun]

This is precisely why I posted this, when I reinstall the circlip Ill bend a bit so it doesnt stick out as much and also Ill put a little grease on it to keep it from moving

[defprun]

Thanks for your input drddan

[htchbck]

This is precisely why I posted this, when I reinstall the circlip Ill bend a bit so it doesnt stick out as much and also Ill put a little grease on it to keep it from moving

Thanks for your input drddan

defprun, I wasn't trying to be rude, and I'm not now, but if your reason for posting this was to get hints and tips on axle removal/installation, it might have helped to ask that, rather than asking people if they use or don't use and essential part of the axle assembly. Glad you found what you were looking for though.

[defprun]

I like watching people get all fired up I guess. Lol.

Just had the circlip off so I didnt have to wrestle the axle in and out just to see how much of the BP's oil pan I had to grind off.

[scitzz]

Oh how I wish we could leave them off, but we can't!

Please allow me to add another penny of advice. When you get new axles, carefully inspect the circlip. I have found at times they come with one that has to heavy a gauge, ie, they are too dang big/thick. In some cases, they just are not collapsed enough and can be pinched tighter with needle nose. Other cases, I have replaced the new one with an old one.

Think ahead, even if you sell the car, the next owner that has to remove it may be a friend of yours and might look for help from you

[defprun]

Ive had the axles out a couple times, im going to pinch the circlip just a tad to help reinstall but thats it. Removal isnt hard at all I have a medium sized pribar with good deflection, one hit with my little sledge pops the axles right out.