is there a trick ?

i have tried prying it in

i have tried hitting in back in while on the ball joint
and
Off of the ball joint.

it is about 1/2 shy of going in all the way.

I am afraid of hitting on the bearing as that seems to be aluminum and will probably crack off.

Any tips??

 

I like to sit on the ground and push the end in with my foot to pop it in but make sure the circlip is still on the end of the axle and its not bent or anything.

Just start with the axle a few inches out and to give it some time to pick up speed and it should pop in.

 

Did my 1999 DX last year but had the car on a lift up in the air. We had the air dam off so I believe we took it out from the bottom and installed reverse. In your case just apply some light force and wiggle the heck out of it and it should go in.

 

^This.

Gotta slide hammer it in useing the mass of the axle assembly.

Verify where the axle circlip is located. You will want the open ends in the 12 O'clock position so they are in the circlip groove. If the ends are left in the 6 O'clock position they are independent and can wedge and jam, preventing the axle from fully seating.

 

Yeah, if I had to guess I would say the circlip got damaged and is what's preventing the axle from going in.

 

clip was ok..

i had to take axle out of hub, straighten, and hit hard with small sledge hammer and it popped right in. there were videos of people doing this.

:-)