Ok, so I got the pass. side axle to pry out about 1.5 inches, but have no room left for leverage to pry, and the thing won't budge. I know there is a set ring in there...does that have to be pushed in to get the axle to pop loose?.....I can see the end of the axle where it slides into the transmission housing....just does not seem to want to move anymore....

Also, the driver's side has no room to pry...and the car is not on a lift to get any space to whack at it with the rubber mallet....

help?

 

ok im not gonna try to understand that fully, but heres a home axle removal guide

with the car on the ground, loosen all the front wheel lugs and both axle nuts
jack the car up and jackstand it
take the wheels off
take the cotter pins out of and loosen the lower ball joints
separate the ball joint and pull the axle out of the knuckle as you move it to the side
loosen the 3 bolts on the halfshaft (manual only)
drain trans fluid
using a flathead screwdriver or better yet an axle removal tool if necessary, get the passenger side axle out
then commence yanking on the driver side axle, i find it easiest to just take the whole halfshaft/axle off as one peice, i jiggle the halfshaft bracket to get it off, you can try turning the axle slightly back and forth as you jiggle
then just loosen the lower shock mount bolts and pry them outta the way so the axle can fall out

 

sorry if that was a bit hard to understand....


what is the best way to separate the ball joint without the Honda 'special tool'?...

also, the axle nut is a PITA to try and spin off.....when I have a buddy step on the brakes, the rotor seems to spin (or maybe it is the axle itself turning...)

but either way the axle nut spins when I don't think it should be....

 

the axle cant spin if its in the knuckle and the car isnt moving, this is why you do it on the ground

i usually use a peice of wood and a floor jack to get the lower bj out....a hammer helps

 

rent the ball joint seperator fork from autozone. and get some pb blaster for the axle nuts, that should break down all the **** in there and make it easier to loosen up

 

1st rule of motor/tranny removial, loosen axle nuts on the ground

 

sprayed the axle nut with PB (3) times. since this morning...


how can you take the axle nut off with the car on the ground (tires on I assume) because the center cap is in the way?

 

the center cap pops off, just be careful to not mar it

 

 

ok....so like an idiot I followed the service manual and it mentioned nothing about doing this on the ground

the suspension is loose now and I am afraid to lower the car....the damper fork is off and was removed....

If I lower the car enough to get the tires to touch the ground but not put the full weight of the car down, think that would work? Unless having the damper fork off will not harm the suspension....

 

you can probably get them off as is, just use an angle that wont move the suspension, use a pipe as a breaker bar if you need....

 

have a piece of pipe attached to the end of a breaker bar....still no luck....

something spins and is not allowing enough force to be used...

 

your buddy isnt on the brakes hard enough, keep in mind you have no vacuum boost now so you really have to stomp on them

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda318dx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">1st rule of motor/tranny removial, loosen axle nuts on the ground</TD></TR></TABLE> Great minds think alike

 

correct^^^ the reason the manual says do it in the air is because they do the disassembly for the manual on a brand new car.. so everything comes right off perfectly.. the car will definitely have to be on the ground and have someone pressing the brake.. and to pop the axle out, just get a prybar wedged in between the axle and tranny and then pop it with a hammer.. should come right out.. and to get it back in you will also prolly have to pop it with a hammer..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NoVALude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ok, so I got the pass. side axle to pry out about 1.5 inches, but have no room left for leverage to pry, and the thing won't budge.</TD></TR></TABLE>

This statement bothers me. Yes there is a snap ring on the inside-end of the half-shaft, but once you pull it out even 1/4" from the tranny, the snap ring is no longer the issue. You aren't trying to remove it with the outboard end of the axle still in the rear upright are you? If so you need to first unbolt the rear upright so it can move outward, THEN the inboard end will pull right out.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kb58 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> You aren't trying to remove it with the outboard end of the axle still in the rear upright are you? If so you need to first unbolt the rear upright so it can move outward, THEN the inboard end will pull right out.</TD></TR></TABLE>

the fork is off, but the control arm is still attached along with the radius arm...rear upright?

 

Put the fork back on, put the castlenut on (don't need to tighten), put the tire on without the center cap, put the car back down. Put the 36mm socket on the end with a breaker bar and jump on the freaking bar. It will loosen..

DO NOT pound the end of the axle.
DO NOT pull on the axle shaft, while the inner CV is in the transmission/halfshaft (this will seperate the axle).
You must have the bottom balljoint pop out before taking the axle out.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda318dx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Put the fork back on, put the castlenut on (don't need to tighten), put the tire on without the center cap, put the car back down. Put the 36mm socket on the end with a breaker bar and jump on the freaking bar. It will loosen.. DO NOT pound the end of the axle. DO NOT pull on the axle shaft, while the inner CV is in the transmission/halfshaft (this will seperate the axle).
You must have the bottom balljoint pop out before taking the axle out.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ok, will try this later today. I found a 4 foot piece of pipe to add to the breaker bar (2 foot) and I am going to try and get my friend to stop by who weighs like 280....hopefully the breaker bar doesn't break.

 

Make sure your going the right way.....Lefty loosey....Righty tighty...Oh yeah and have some one hold the brakes very tight.

 

if available use air, and hit it with PB when ur hittin it with the air, and just hold the gun on there... everynow and then flip it to fowards then back to reverse real quick, and continue to do that, it should loosen

 

Ok, I was able to get the driver side axle nut off......but the pass. side looks shredded on the inside where the threads are:



Pic is not the greatest, but basically it looks like the 'tab' that was on the axle nut shredded off and I think a piece bent down and is preventing the axle nut from turning.....broke a 1/2" breaker bar tonight too...dude that weighs 265 could not get it to budge...

 

I never worried about the tab.. Don't know what to tell you.. You can just take the whole steering nuckle off w/ the axle still attached.

 

Tab?? Are you talking about the peice you punch into the recess in the axle tip?? Just use a punch and knock that back out to round, its purposely like that.....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mgags7 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Tab?? Are you talking about the peice you punch into the recess in the axle tip?? Just use a punch and knock that back out to round, its purposely like that.....</TD></TR></TABLE>

When I first looked at the axle nut, there was no 'tab' (as mentioned in the service manual)...the threads look kind of warped into the axle nut threads.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda318dx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I never worried about the tab.. Don't know what to tell you.. You can just take the whole steering nuckle off w/ the axle still attached.</TD></TR></TABLE>

steering knuckle ... you mean from the top of the strut down?..

edit: Oh and I have strut spring compressors.....