K, brakes will be done later, but thanks to those who replied!

My trouble now is putting the halfshafts back in. Intermediate shaft and driver's side shaft went in fine, but the pass. side shaft hits a wall about halfway in. Already put everything on top in the engine bay back together, car is still in reverse like the Haynes says but the axles, when in, were spinning the opposite directions. Just curious what the problem could be.

1. Spring clip on pass. shaft has a diameter about a millimeter or a little more larger than the spline. Would this make a difference?

2. Also, the trans slipped out of reverse when reinstalling things. Would that make a difference?

Any help would be hugely appreciated!

 

That is all normal. The axles will spin opposite of the other because of the differential.

#1 No, it's normal

#2 No

 

My pass side axle was a Pain in the *** to get back in. It will go all the way in, just keep trying...

 

It sounds awful, but try the following (I have to do this to get my pass side axle back in).

Put axle in as far as it will go.
Place a 2X4 piece of wood on the back side of the inboard cv boot.
Wack the back of the 2X4 with the hammer.
Rotate the axle and repeat.

My CV boots are in pretty good shape and were able to live through this. It is the only way I could get the axle back in my car two different times.

Axle without clip, slides all the way in.

Axle with clip, slides in about 1/2" short of where its supposed to be.

 

Well, I didn't read your suggestion, niedejb, but I got mad at the axle and hammered it in with a 1/2" drive extension on the inside boot, didn't damage it at all. I messed around with that axle for 2 hours and all it took was for me to take 5 seconds and hammer it in. By hand, it would only go in halfway like you said.

I'm glad kept messing with it. Rest of the installation went well except I realized this morning that I forgot to tighten the hub nuts all the way up. Better do that when I get home. That and the clutch needs to be adjusted as it engages about an inch off the floor.