OK,
I CHECKED the FAQ and can't find anything on this. I want to change the axels on my 96 SE (CV boots are gone and so is the grease, I can get axels with lifetime warranty including the boots for less than I can have the boots replaced at a shop) I have a Haynes manual but it SUX, does anyone have a good site with pics on how to do this? A local tire shop wants about 200 per side to do this and I don't trust anybody but myself to do things right. I just want a clear understanding of how to do it BEFORE I begin. (Any hidden snap rings, tips or tricks, etc) so I don't screw anything up.
If anyone can direct me to a site I'd appreciate it.
TIA
2Maximas

 

Get your new axles from www.raxles.com Do not get reman axles from AutoZone or anything like that.


The Haynes manual really dows provide all the steps. It's not a complex operation at all.

 

i replaced my axles this month. driver side is real easy, just remove the strut and all bolts connected to spindle. I couldn't remove the 36mm nut from the axel on both sides so i bought new spindles as well. removing the passenger side is a reall f--en b--tch. really annoying. there are 3 screws holding the axel in place and they are hard to get at. really hard. passenger side axel just pops out. good luck

 

$200 per side labor charge is way too much. I have seen them as low as $65 per from a local gas station.

 

it should not be hard to change them
I remember i went to a shop to had mine changed on my old 3rd gen and it seemed like it literally took them like 5-15 minutes per side with the car lifted up.. can't be that hard.
as far as mechanic charges..
it is estimated on how long it takes them to do it.. usually mechanics charge a flat rate of like 60-80$/hr for labor.. check with them before hand.. 200$ would mean it is around 3 hours in labor which means they are beating you severly.. it shouldn't take them even an hour to do all this..
a lot of shops charge an hours worth of work even for 10 minute repairs..

 

What does Raxles charge for a new axle? I don't see pricing anywhere on their site...

**

I went ahead and called them. $119 for the driver's side, $149 for the passenger side. Shipping will likely be $35. Not bad.

 

How do you know when your axels are bad?

 

vibration/noise.

 

Oh, there's plenty of signs. Just search the forum and you'll find lots of answers (no sense in repeating them all here). Most common case is when your CV boots crack/rip due to age... they allow the CV joint grease to leak out and contaminants get in. With all of the labor involved for taking the axles off to replace the boots, it makes sense to replace the axles too if the mileage is high.

Y'know, I still can't figure out why auto makers don't have CV boot PROTECTORS. The common cause for failed boots is exposure to the elements over the years.

 

Oh, there's plenty of signs. Just search the forum and you'll find lots of answers (no sense in repeating them all here). Most common case is when your CV boots crack/rip due to age... they allow the CV joint grease to leak out and contaminants get in. With all of the labor involved for taking the axles off to replace the boots, it makes sense to replace the axles too if the mileage is high.

Y'know, I still can't figure out why auto makers don't install CV boot PROTECTORS. The common cause for failed boots is exposure to the elements over the years. If an outer protective covering guarded the rubber boots, I'm sure they'd last twice as long.

 

I was about to order but then I realized no point in changing my axels now because I'm planning on doing a conversion within the next year. It doesn't really make sense to change my axels now since I would need new ones for the manual or what do you guys think?