If you ever....

Work on a FWD car and need to pull the axles, you are doing yourself a disservice if you don't have a slide hammer with FWD axle puller attachment.

That is all.

Thats why I'm trying to find sometime in my area to replace the clutch in my zx2. Anyone? In stl? No? Alex? Want some cash? Maybe a little?

How does anyone that is considering pulling said axles not know that already?

Hrm, I have a big ass slide hammer with all kinds of attachments and never thought to use it in this manner. Always used a pry bar from underneath. Thanks for the tip!

Picture of said impliment?

I think my slide hammer got stolen, but I never had an axle puller for it. I should see if I can track it down.

RossD wrote: Picture of said impliment?

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/OEM-FWD-Axle-Puller-Adapter?itemIdentifier=2061

It's a lifesaver. You don't always HAVE to use it... i can usually get axles out with a pickle fork and a dead blow or pry bar.

But if that doesn't work, this is the answer, and will make any axle its bitch in short order.

Last night i spent 4 hours trying to get axles out of my rusty pile of E36 M3 parts car. Big pry bar, air hammer (got STUCK!), couldn't un-do the axle nuts, either. Even tried cutting through the axles. (wasn't going so well)

Went to Vatozone, rented this, both axles were out within 15 minutes.

Thanks for the tip, I'm about to do another CV axle in the Sentra, I just may rent (see: take) this from work.

I can say I have never had a chance to use something like that..... Guess axles get scared when I pull out the 42" 5/8" thick prybar.

I'll have to get pictures of this car up so you can understand.

This is hands down the RUSTIEST car i have EVER worked on.

Bummer. I grew up in Michigan and I understand rusty POS vehicles. But I still never needed one of those to pull FWD axles in the trans shop.

i usually use either a big punch on the end of the shaft with a small sledge, or an air hammer. worked pretty well so far.

Ranger50 wrote: Bummer. I grew up in Michigan and I understand rusty POS vehicles. But I still never needed one of those to pull FWD axles in the trans shop.

I bet you had a lift?

In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac:

Really? I've done dozens and have never needed anything like that. It seems that if you used that on a Honda you'd pull the slip joint right apart.

bravenrace wrote: In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac: Really? I've done dozens and have never needed anything like that. It seems that if you used that on a Honda you'd pull the slip joint right apart.

Whoa whoa... don't put it there lol.

Goes between the trans and the axle cup. Or the axle cup and the midshaft bracket on the other side.

It's used to defeat the "clip" that holds the splines.

So far i've had to use one on the Celica, the MX6, a Saturn SC2, and now this MX3.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

Ranger50 wrote: Bummer. I grew up in Michigan and I understand rusty POS vehicles. But I still never needed one of those to pull FWD axles in the trans shop.

I bet you had a lift?

Not always.

i was picturing it all wrong too. never had a problem with a prybar myself there, though i guess if you dont want to pry against the aluminum it'd help.

hmmm...good to know. The CV boots out by the hubs are split on both side of my Infiniti. Im tempted to replace em myself. Ive never done it before, and was curious what kinda specialty tools Id need. At least now I know of 2

edit:

DOh, Im an idiot, why would I need to PULL the axles? I just need the hubs off...nevermind.

Do I have to hand in my gearhead card now?

WilberM3 wrote: i was picturing it all wrong too. never had a problem with a prybar myself there, though i guess if you dont want to pry against the aluminum it'd help.

Yeah, i like my transmission cases not looking mangled.

And these things were not coming out with a prybar. We even tried prybar with a cheater bar on it.

4cylndrfury wrote: hmmm...good to know. The CV boots out by the hubs are split on both side of my Infiniti. Im tempted to replace em myself. Ive never done it before, and was curious what kinda specialty tools Id need. At least now I know of 2

BFH, punch/another hammer, pliers/side cutters, vise, and a band clamp tool to fix with a non-split boot.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

bravenrace wrote: In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac: Really? I've done dozens and have never needed anything like that. It seems that if you used that on a Honda you'd pull the slip joint right apart.

Whoa whoa... don't put it there lol. Goes between the trans and the axle cup. Or the axle cup and the midshaft bracket on the other side. It's used to defeat the "clip" that holds the splines. So far i've had to use one on the Celica, the MX6, a Saturn SC2, and now this MX3.

Okay, I gotcha. I've still never needed one. I just stick a small pry bar behind the inboard joint and they've always just popped out.

I'd say i only need it 20% of the time. But it sure makes that 20% a breeze.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

WilberM3 wrote: i was picturing it all wrong too. never had a problem with a prybar myself there, though i guess if you dont want to pry against the aluminum it'd help.

Yeah, i like my transmission cases not looking mangled. And these things were not coming out with a prybar. We even tried prybar with a cheater bar on it.

well i've used a pair of prybars with great success if one wont do it. one on each side to disperse the pressure and pull straight out. and if youre really worried about the aluminum i've used a thin chunk of wood to pry against too.

WilberM3 wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

WilberM3 wrote: i was picturing it all wrong too. never had a problem with a prybar myself there, though i guess if you dont want to pry against the aluminum it'd help.

Yeah, i like my transmission cases not looking mangled. And these things were not coming out with a prybar. We even tried prybar with a cheater bar on it.

well i've used a pair of prybars with great success if one wont do it. one on each side to disperse the pressure and pull straight out. and if youre really worried about the aluminum i've used a thin chunk of wood to pry against too.

Tried that, too. This thing is trashed. The pictures will probably explain what we were dealing with.

the first CV axle I ever tried to do was on the '91 geo prizm (toyota rolla) with an auto trans... In fact it was the first major repair i'd ever done by myself... ended up pulling the CV joint apart yanking on the thing... (after trying to wedge it out... even rented the slide hammer with the puller... no luck because of how the axle is shaped (kind of a ball so you cant get to anything to use the adapter to grab onto)... ended up cobbling it together enough to get it to the local shop and let them deal with it lol...

personally I don't know why they aren't all like the mr2.... axle itself bolts to the shaft that goes in the tranny itself... 6 8mm nuts hold it all together... but if I ever have to do another cv axle i'll def rent one.