I was able to get them out with a hard yank on a 5 foot prybar, but I am stuck on how to get them back in. The factory service manual just says "installation is the reverse of removal", and only youtube video I could find jump cuts past that step, but I don't even know where to start on coming up with a way to apply enough force to seat the c clips in the differential. Has anyone done this before?
If they have a ridge on them, you can get them as far in as possible by hand and then put a prybar against the ridge and hammer them the rest of the way in. I don't think I've ever encountered that type of axle without some small surface to whack them back in, not sure what I'd do without it- maybe put a big c-clamp around it and hit that?
It just has a press fit seal protector, then smooth up to where the boot attaches, so I'm not sure.
Hmm. In that case, I'd either slide the boot off enough to get a good surface on the back, or try to hang onto it with something. You could probably also drive it in by pushing the entire axle, although I'm not sure the joints would love it.
Use the axle shaft as a slide hammer and it should pop right in; you're not going to damage anything inside the CV joints with your hands.
Make sure the c-clip isn't mangled and the groove is clean; it shouldn't take massive force to reseat the axle.
newrider3 said:Use the axle shaft as a slide hammer and it should pop right in; you're not going to damage anything inside the CV joints with your hands.
Make sure the c-clip isn't mangled and the groove is clean; it shouldn't take massive force to reseat the axle.
I've used this technique on many cars.
In reply to APEowner :
And lube with a little oil or grease. Helps a lot.
I tried it again and no luck, I can't even get the axles back in to the differential they came from with it on the floor. I am really not sure what to do, I am going to try ordering new C clips and and spend another couple weekends struggling with it, then I guess I will have to put it back together without axles and sacrifice the rear wheel bearings to have it towed to a shop to finish it. I am really frustrated, everything else on this car has been easy to do, I have had the engine and transmission out several times, rebuilt the whole suspension, etc, but I am stuck on this one. I understand what has to happen, but there is literally no explanation of it online I can find and I do not have the skill to come up with a procedure of how to apply enough force to the axles to get them installed.
Install axles as far as you can.
Use one hand on the outer CV joint to compress the inner joint to full compression.
Whack the end of the outer axle with the largest hammer at your disposal that you can swing one-handed.
A word on hammer usage. It is all too common for people to just swing the hammer at something and just bounce it off. I did this for years and it is tiring! A proper hammer swing has you pushing through the whole stroke. A great way to break this habit is to aim for a spot 3-4 inches deeper than what you are trying to hit. Swing with good follow-through like this and most things only need one or two strikes.
It really shouldn't even need that much force to get them in, BFH will work but as a last resort.
Try taking out the c-clips and do a dry run to be sure there isn't some other problem preventing reinstallation? Can you post a pic of the ends of your axles so we can see if they are mushroomed or otherwise have an issue?
Honestly, if you're at the end of your rope and desperate, you could probably throw them in without the c-clips. They *might* stay in just far enough and *might* not leak all the gear oil out for long enough to order some brand new axles from RockAuto. They're like $35 a piece which at this point might be cheaper than being pissed off.
In reply to newrider3 :
Sometimes the clip is just an shiny happy person. Maybe it's too large and is catching the side gear outside of its little bevel meant to compress the clip on its way through. Rotating the axle and trying again helps if this is the case.
I have yet to do a driver side Maxima axle that didn't require removing the passenger side axle out and driving the axle out from the other side with a long punch. Sometimes the clip is just an shiny happy person....
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