I have removed and reinstalled them before, and I don't remember it being this difficult. I replaced my passenger side axle yesterday, thought everything was ok, and found out the axle popped back out of the tranny. I have been using all of my strength to get it back it, but it won't do it.

Is there somekind of trick? Do I need to remove the knuckle again? Helms says to install the axle into the hub first, then into the tranny. I did it the other way around last time, which is why I think it popped out. I compared the two axles, and they appear to be identical. I have been working on this damn thing for hours and it's going to be a real problem if I can't get it finished before work today

Also, anybody have a trick to getting the hub nut off without having somebody standing on the brakes? I don't think my wife will get out of bed at 5:30 in the morning to help me!

 

I put a little grease on the splines and around the retaining clip. I also have two pieces of oak boards, about 1" x 2" by 2 feet long that i use to lever the inner joint into the diferential. I prop one end against the frame rail and push against the outside of the rubber boot.

If you use this method be carefull to keep the pressure on the boot as spread out as possible, you don't want to cut the boot against the body of the joint (guess how i know this)

Mike

 

Well all I did was push it in and out until it finally just poped in. I first tried using all my force and it just wouldn't go. Then I just kept kinda jabbing it in and out until it just clicked right in. Sometimes brute force is not the way to go.

 

you might want to pull the entire axle off. the only way i know how to get the hub nut off (without someone on the brakes) is to put the wheel on. 99% have somthing that pops out of the center to allow acess to the nut. good luck (ive changed my axle too many times...)

 

Just make sure the gap in the C clip is pointing down and it will pop right in every time . . .

Don't force it, that's not nice . . . besides if you do it this way, you won't need to . . .

 

with the spindle side out... it's a piece of cake.... pops right in... with a nittle nudge.. it gets set in place

 

Damn yeah I finally got it back in there. Had to take the spindle side back off this morning and actually got it going again about 10 minutes before we open our place...whew! Thanks guys!

PS I actually tapped the threaded end of the axle with a mallot and that got it in there pretty easy. With I would have known about the c clip facing down deal though!

 

be careful, if you hit the spindle end too hard you can damage it.