What's your trick to getting the new axle in? You have to pry the inner CV joint out to remove the old axle, but what's the best way to get the new one in? Because simply pushing it in has not been successful so far.

Check the 5spd conversion site.

Actually, you only need a light hammer. There is a spring clip on the end of the CV joint that you have to force in, so light tapping on the end should do it.

I kept suggesting we "tap" it in, but we just tried to shove it and pry that boot back in. Maybe we'll try the hammer method tonight

Got a link?

The retaining clip? That is on the outer end of the axle. I'm having problems with the inner side right now. Is that what you meant?

Use about a 5lb rubber mallet other wise youll jack up the threads on the Axle and youll be screwed so use a rubber mallet.

Bruce

Thanks a lot fellas, I think we're gonna go with the rubber mallet method tonight, and I'll let you know how it goes after I get all the grease off of hands.

Use a block of wood to spread the load of the hammer. OR use a large punch and put it in the indent of the axle. DO NOT bang on the threaded part directly or else you will wind up *****-heading the end and you'll never get the axle nut on.

"*****-heading"?

Yeah...

technical term...

You could put the spindle nut on the axle and bang the hell out of that...

Since its my car that we are "*****-heading" I think ill post.....anyway I've heard that whatever you do dont hit it.

Is that what the RAXLE.com guy said?

u don't need a hammer! u just have to line up the splins with the ones in the trans. basically u have to hold the axle straight and twist and push the axle in.its kinda hard casue the strut/hub gets in the way (if u unblot it from the strut) i work in a shop (Ford) and i never saw someone use a hammer.

There is a clip like everyone says and you can see. Sometimes you can just coax the axle in by pushing it fast. But the usual method is to get the axle in 95% and use a heavy hammer to gently tap it in the rest of the way. I hope you noted how far the cv joint was seated before removing them right. If you don't get it in all the way, fluid will leak out. Using a light or rubber hammer probably won't work as it doesn't have enough enertia to overcome the mass of the cv itself.

he's talkin about the same thing... the little ring around the inside spines in that groove... in my opinion the rubber mallet sounds the best... time to get dirty again

mike

Yo faulker I need to talk to you, get online.

If it requires heavy hammering, you're probably doing more harm than good. Go back and recheck to make sure everything is lined up properly.

Chances are, there is a spring clip on the end of the axle that is catching on the splines of the transmission. If you mindlessly hammer the axle, you'll just tear the clip all to h*ll. If you try and maybe compress the clip a bit to get it to start, while making sure everything is lined up right, you'll probably have much better luck.

If it won't tap in, go back and find out what is holding things up. Don't live by the saying... "If it won't go, get a bigger hammer!"

Good Luck!

Speaking of Axles, where is a good place to get a pair. I know discount auto parts has them with lifetime replacment. Also When I was calling around looking, they asked if I had a high speed diff. Whats all that about, its different then the limited slip right? Thanks

Raxles may cost more than the remanufactured axles you can buy, but when I was tearing the box open and pulled out that fresh new axle... it was just beautiful. Everything is built and packaged, ready to go.

Word.

Well, the passenger side axle is in now. But we still couldn't get that driver's side axle to slide in. We even tried the hammer method using a block of wood to absorb some of the stress. Is there anything we missed, possibly something abstructing the path of the axle?

Wow, this is puzzling. I've had my axles out twice in the past year, and I never had any problems getting them back in. Just line 'em up and shove 'em in - didn't even have to use a hammer.

So you can't even get the splines engaged? If that is the case, I wonder if you somehow you got the wrong axle. They're new, right? Maybe the parts guy gave you the wrong one? If you still have the old axle, measure the diameter at the splines and compare.

I gave you some advice just a couple posts up. Part of that advice involved the little 'c' clip near the end of the axle splines. (I guess Maxima axles have these little clips)

Anyway,

Once while changing an axle in a Sentra, the driver's side just would not go in. After a bit of head scratching, it was determined the c-clip on the end of the axle splines was spread apart too far to start into the transmission. When the axle was inserted into the transmission, it would go in up to that clip and stop....

I didn't really learn the real problem until I tried to force it, and bent the clip up a little. But, after removing the clip and squeezing it's diameter down a little with a set of pliars before putting it back on the splines, the axle went into place with very little effort.

Good Luck!

Good advice.

somethings just not lineing up somewhere. Have one person hold the end of the axle and make sure its going in straight. One of the problems I had was that I was trying to do all of it by myself. The CV kept trying to turn, so the end wouldn't go in straight. Once I realized what the problem was, I was able to straighten it out and everything went together. You also want to make sure nothing is binding on the wheel bearing side, or you will be replacing that soon as well...

What could be binding on the bearing? We get it in far enough for the threads to lock so that we can turn the other axel with this one.....it just suddenly stops.

I think the clip may be the culprit. But the axle gets in except for the last little 1/8 of an inch. It's very strange.

These are good replies, thanks.

Its more than 1/8 of and inch more like a 1/2........

yeah, probably more like 1/2 inch. I had the big halogen in my eyes most the time

I had grease in mine.

Rooby rike RAXLES. And Rooby Racks.

Raaaagggy, rrreeeeelllppp!

The job is done.

Mike used a short thrust method that he heard about at the dealership he works out. I was so happy when I saw that axle slide all the way in. Then we played Halo to celebrate.

thats good to hear

Oh. You didn't try that before? I would have mentioned it earlier if I had known you hadn't. Anyway, glad to hear you got it in.

We did kind of try it earlier, but Mike just had to use his special touch on it. Just test drove the car, and everything is great.

yay, glad to hear it worked... yeah i don't know what the problem was the other day when we first were tryin to put it in... guess i just needed to come back to the project another day, w/ a clear head to get it in finally... took all of 2 mins to beat that axle in and another 15 to put everything back together

mike