Doing axles on a car is not a hard job; most of the time. Undo a few nuts, swing out the knuckle, and slide the axle into the tranny or intermediate shaft. But sometimes, these ***** just don't want to go in. This job that was supposed to take 15 mins in theory is now taking hours, and numerous objects are getting thrown and beaten. I came up with a solution. I hope this helps many people out.

First, pull the car into a garage, next to a wall. Then take a wooden post, and lay it on the floor, butted up to the wall, parallel in front of the axle. Then take a 2x4, and hold it up in between the piece of wood you just laid down, and the axle. Now comes the fun part! Have someone hold the axle up underneath the kaah, while you hold the second piece of wood up, and beat the crap out of it w/ a BFH (big friggin' hammer for those not in the BFH loop) to make the axle go in. The wooden post holds the second piece of wood in place while you go medevil on the 2x4, and that bastard snap ring on your axle. Here's a pic that demonstrates what I'm talking about. Now go find some wood and a BFH, and make a hot pocket while you're at it.

 

or a rubber malet taping on the end of the axle while its being twisted, either..or..

 

Beating the axle in was easy. Getting the axle nut off was the hard part. I had to take it to a tire shop and they had to break out their big air tools since their normal air tools wouldn't do it. And the ******* thing had been removed only a few months ago to do an engine swap.

 

Mine was easy to take off. I just bent the staked part back out before I removed it.

 

umm cool idea but lucky i already replace mines but i'll use this new theory for my next replace if it really works
thanks dood

 

That is how I have always done it

 

Or how about holding the driveshaft up with one hand holding and pushing it in (so the inner joint is deep int the 'cup') then using the correct tool, a plastic tipped anti-vibration mallet the drive it in without causeing any damage or messing around with like a plank!

 

I never use hammers to put in axles. Some thick grease around the snap ring to center it works wonders.

 

heh, i tried using marine grease on the splines before putting it in, but it didn't seem to help that much.