Hi everyone-
I finally got my Koni/Prokit setup for my 01 Prelude base. The front drivers side went fine, however after installing the shock/spring combo on the pass. side, I noticed the inner cv boot looked a little funny. Sure enough it had been stretched and separated from the part connecting to the transmission. I removed the cv boot and noticed that I seem to be sol. The circlip is still there but I cannot get the three bearings (tulip whatever) back in and I do not want to pound it and break something expensive. My friend suggested a whole new axle, and my father said to clean out all the old grease, get some new CV grease and pack the bearings and try to get them to go back in. Is there any trick to this? I know there is a wide and narrow side of these 3 bearings but cannot get the little buggers in there. I have searched but to no avail, please help.
thanks

 

a new axle is not necessary. however, you will need to replace the cv boot. when you get one it should come with the grease and the metal strap needed to secure the boot. the three bearings go in one way...and you won't know until you take the boot off. once you put the bearings back, put the grease in and seal the boot with the metal strap. you should be fine from there.

 

I did remove the strap, but could not reinsert the three bearings. I know they go in only one way but one of the three would always get in a bind. I messed with it for around 2 hours then got P.O.ed and quit for the night before I broke something. Is there any trick to getting them back in? thanks

 

I've had axles apart before, I'm sure you have a big mess on your hands. The inner joint has three assemblies that can be tricky to put in right with everything covered in grease. The ball joints slide onto the three posts coming out radially from the axle with the bearings facing out. Then the axle slides into the joint casing. The three ball assemblies have bearings and rectangular sliders that line up with tracks in the casing. The rectangular bits must be the right direction to line up with the casing, not 90 degrees off. Maybe you can take one of the ball assemblies off and clean it up to see how it works and fits. Try putting just this one assembly into the joint casing so you can see how it lines up with the track. I guess that's about as good as I can describe it from memory without saying, "just line it up and slide it in." Good luck.

 

After you get frustrated and messey and can't get it back together, then go to the parts store and get a replacement axle.

You might have some luck in reassembling the joint, but it's a pain in the *** to get the band clamps on there tight enough so as to prevent all the grease from oozing out again under load.

 

DO NOT GET REMAN AXLES if you are to replace them.. They have lifetime warrenties, but often shake because the tolarances are to big in the bearing casings. Only go OEM or RAXLES for standard replacements.

http://www.raxles.com

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda318dx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">DO NOT GET REMAN AXLES if you are to replace them.. They have lifetime warrenties, but often shake because the tolarances are to big in the bearing casings. Only go OEM or RAXLES for standard replacements.

http://www.raxles.com</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've had good luck with the 2 reman axles I've bought, but I have heard the above from several sources. . . maybe I've just been lucky before. Next time one goes kaput, I'm planning on going to raxles

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by flyrod &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've had axles apart before, I'm sure you have a big mess on your hands. The inner joint has three assemblies that can be tricky to put in right with everything covered in grease. The ball joints slide onto the three posts coming out radially from the axle with the bearings facing out. Then the axle slides into the joint casing. The three ball assemblies have bearings and rectangular sliders that line up with tracks in the casing. The rectangular bits must be the right direction to line up with the casing, not 90 degrees off. Maybe you can take one of the ball assemblies off and clean it up to see how it works and fits. Try putting just this one assembly into the joint casing so you can see how it lines up with the track. I guess that's about as good as I can describe it from memory without saying, "just line it up and slide it in." Good luck.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks for the response, I did find out that one way is wider (on the 3 bearings)but cannot get them all in at once. I get it lined up but when I start putting pressure on it to go in they always ****. This is when I get mad. I was considering pulling the axle out of the hub so I can have a straight shot in. Does anyone recommend this? Thanks everyone

 

yes, it would be much easier if you removed the axle from the car and try to fit it that way. much easier! no wonder it was hard for you...i thought you had already removed it from the car.

 

If you are trying to get all three to line up at the same time, you're doing it the hard way. Get two aligned properly and slide the joint casing over the two. Then angle the joint toward the two. Doing so opens the passage for the third to be slid in. Align the third and straighten the joint. When straightening use one hand to help guide the third into place. Luckily, it only took my 15 mins to figure that out.............This was done with in still on the car.

Getting the band on is the hardest part. If you have the hook style, use a small screw driver for leverage.

 

ive done this abt 3 times its such a bitch the last time i found a way and seems to work nice line up 2 bearings then with the other hand grab the axle shaft line it up and somehow get that 3rd bearing lined up and it should slide rite in

 

Got it, thanks for the help. Cleaning all the old grease out and repacking it helped a lot.

 

going with reman axles can this cause a popping noise when coming to a stop or taking off from a stop because it was doing this before but im thinking maybe the intermediate shaft is goin out because i just put the new axles in last weekend and im still gettin this noise and a popping sensation in the brae and clutch pedals at the same time i hear the noise.