OK, so I have been working on replacing the clutch on my 90 Si. The car is super clean and has low miles. I am replacing the clutch and flywheel and rear main seal with oem stuff.

Here is my problem:
I can't get the axles out. I tried busting off the ball joints with a big hammer, but that didnt work. So then I read everyone talking about how you dont have to remove the ball joint just the LCA and sway bar, then everything swings out of the way, the axle slides out like butter and Bob's your uncle.

I undid the LCA and the sway, but nothing "swings out of the way", at least not enough to get the axle out.

So i need some ideas. I have been going at this for about 4 hours and its starting to grate on me. I'm not a complete idiot, I have air tools etc.

Please help!

Here are some pics of where I am at:


LCA disconnected



Sway disconnected


Axle, popped out a little.

 

Your lower control arm looks like its still bolted in from that last picture.

 

So you remove the lca completely? That makes a lot more sense. Let me go try that.

 

You're doing it way wrong.


Remove the lower control arm from the hub
Use this

 

What am I looking at? Is that a ball joint extractor thing?

 

You need a pitman arm puller and pop the lower ball joint loose.

 

I was under the understanding that you could remove the axles without popping the ball joint. Is that not the case?

 

You can. That's the course you're on right now. Personally I'd still say just pop the balljoint out. There are ways to do it without that tool too. What were you trying to smack it with earlier?

My way of popping the balljoint out is to jack the LCA up until you have enough room to wedge a breaker bar in between the LCA and the knuckle where the balljoint meets. Slowly lower the assembly down until it pinches the breaker bar and release the jack completely. Might take a few tries but it's never let me down. For the record though I find it much easier to just smack the arm with my 5lb sledge. 2 hits is usually all it takes.

 

How would you remove the axle without unbolting it from the hub?

You're just trying to move it out of he way?

 

I've been hitting it with a 2 pound plastic sledge.

The axle nut is already off. I'm trying to get the hub out of the way to take the axle out.

 

If I'm hitting it with the hammer, should I hit it upward? Rearward? Forward?

 

You should be hitting the arm itself. Look for a flat spot around the area where the balljoint gets inserted. Don't be afraid to hit it with a good amount of force.

 

I gave up on the arm. Took off the other LCA bolt and it dropped right out of the way. Axles are out!

Now, i just have to do the rest of everything else.

Seriously, guys, thanks for your help. I was ready to throw in the towel. Now I will just rest until tomorrow, when I will probably want to throw in the towel again.

 

If you disconnected the lca, and move the shock out the way, youd be able to use the hub as a axle puller, and when its time to put the axle back in, just push on the hub til the axle goes back in.. Good for people who dont habe the 32mm or 36mm socket

 

disconnecting the LCA does help, but also removing the fork from the shock (just a single 14mm bolt) makes a big difference. that fork is where most of the obstruction and clearance issues are. plus then you dont have to remove the ball joints.

 

I bought a lower ball joint remover from harbor freights, like 20$. It removes the lower ball joint and tie rod ends in seconds.