So it am in the middle of changing my passenger side CV axle when:

The old one pulled out when I tugged at the end of the shaft no problem...I put the new one in, no problem...I discover that it still leaks from the axle shaft (grr)...I decide it's because of the axle seal being pounded into its housing a bit too far...Luckily I have an extra axle seal...

So, I go to pull the new axle out and mess with the seal...the axle does not want to budge, so I pull pretty hard with no luck...Eventually I am able to get it out by tapping a flathead screwdriver in where you put 3 bolts in to secure the bearing and separating the shaft from the bracket (or whatever it's called).

Now to the point: I get the new axle out and realize that from my earlier tugging, the joint closest to the transmission has separated...Now it doesn't move around at all...How do I fix this? Do I need to remove the boot and realign everything, or can I just tap the end of the shaft with a hammer and knock it back into place?

Please help! I need my car back up and running ASAP...a pic of the problem in a minute...

 

hope you got it locally...exchange the axle stat.

if you got it on line you probably have to get the shaft back into the spline of the halfshaft. you literally have to feel around the boot and find the shaft w/ the spines on it and push it into the cup/bearing race piece. pray none of the ***** fell out.

i thought there was a snap ring in there that prevents the joint from separating. if it's that hard you might want to clean the carrier bearing housing (the part the 3 bolts bolt up to) and maybe grease it up a little to make it easier to move in and out.

good luck

 

Joint pictured will not move in and out or around or in any way for that matter...caused by me tugging on it:



How it should look:

 

I have to take it apart, don't I?

 

you "might" be able to get it back in w/o taking the boot apart. but once the boot is apart and etc whatever warranty you have on the axle is bye bye and then you'll need to figure out how to get the boot clipped back on.

did you order it or buy it locally?

 

+1 i had a passenger side axle separate on me when swapping,the large C retainer clip inside the joint broke in half,I ended up separating the two pieces/fished out the broken clip/replaced it with a spare out of an old axle..ugh what messy job.

Worked fine after that.

 

Well, catastrophe avoided (I think, as long as I didn't break the retainer clip)...

I just now line the axle up perpendicular to the floor and gave it a few good hits against the floor...boot looks normal and it seems to move like it's supposed to...should be fine, yes???

 

u should be ok....but don't pull/tug on the joint anymore.

 

Lesson learned Danny, lesson learned...

 

I still might have broken the retainer clip(look at FA-14 in the fsm),I tried the same method with mine,axle wobbled like a **** when driven,but you could give it a shot.

 

If you are referring to the funky boot in that pic I doubt it - to me it looks like its got a 6mm hole in it on that one fold

 

No holes...brand new.

SInce it seems OK, what ARE the chances I broke that clip? Any way to tell short of disassembling the joint (REALLY don't want to do this) or installing it and driving the car?

 

Guess whatever is on the new boot in that pic is quite unfortunate then ....................

Me? - I wouldn't just fit and drive it - I would strip and see where that clip has gone to - either as a whole or its pieces

 

Well, after taking great care installing the new axle and seal, and using a helper to make sure everything lines up correctly...MY TRANNY STILL LEAKS IN THE SAME F###ING SPOT!!! I was very tedious in my work installing everything, yet the tranny still drips from that same seal...I'm at a loss to explain it, this has been the 3rd new seal installed on the passenger side in recent times.

 

i had the same problem when u are putting the seal on just barely put it in about 1/8 of an inch that way when the axle meets up with it it will b flush also check on the axle and make sure that the rubber is not cut or that it is not mistakenly pinched by the axle seal
also DONT DRIVE THE CAR WHILE THE TRANNY LEAKS!!!!!
i did and after about 5 tries to fix it and about a week or two when the tranny finally got filled for the last time and didnt leak boom.... tranny went bye bye
send pix of where the tranny is leaking and ill walk u thru it with photoshop!

-Jared

 

I will post some pics ASAP...but I'm not too worried about the tranny blowing...It has leaked a bit for over 30K and I just keep an eye on the oil level...Was your car auto or 5-speed?

 

I had the same exact problem when replacing my clutch. I took the axle apart and was able to get it back together, but the retainer clip was bent to all hell. I can guarantee that the clip is bent. I drove without the clip for awhile, then the outer boot broke so I replaced both axles anyway.

I also had the same problem with the tranny leaking from the axle seal....good thing for me that I have a 5spd lol. That being said, you should get a leaking auto tranny fixed ASAP!!!

Hope everything works out,
Chris

 

Mine is a 5-speed.