can someone give me a crash course or give me a link to a DIY for replacing the driver side axle on a DC? i know of the DIY for the method of removing the lower ball joint, however my castle nut won't budge so i can't do it that way. i have to remove the upper ball joint, the lca and tie rod but a walk through would help. i know its fairly easy i just have never done it on my own before. thank you

 

why do you have to remove the upper ball joint at all? take a good impact to the castle nut. also do you still have the cotter pin in? and just whack the **** out of the lca on the balljoint it will come loose. just replaced both mine

 

You could remove your upper control arm instead of playing with the ball joints.

There's really no wrong way of doing it, it just depends on what you wanna do, and how much work you're willing to do.

No need to mess with the LCA or tie rod either.

 

this is the second time im repacing this axle, its been through 2 shops and they both couldn't get the castle nut off, even with an air gun.



this is the method im trying to figure out. think you could do a quick rundown? im trying to do as little as possible, just tell me what to disconnect.

 

Just remove your shock/spring assembly and shock fork, remove the axle nut, remove the 2 nuts holding the upper control arm to the shock tower, lower the UCA and swing the top of the knuckle out.

As for that ball joint, sounds like it's time to cut that joker off and have the ball joint replaced.

 

Thanks for explaining the run down Pat.

It's pretty simple, as long as the axle comes out easily from the half shaft.

 

Just make sure you remove the axle nut and loosen the axle end from the wheel bearing FIRST, and then remove the UCA nuts. If you pull down/pull away the UCA before you remove the axle nut, you risk pulling the inner joint apart inside the boot.

If you're replacing the axle I guess it's not such a big deal, just something to remember.