RH CV Axle @#!$ ouch not budging
 

I'm trying to replace the CV on the passenger side. I took out all the bolts that hold it in place. (cotter pin, 36 MM bolt, 3 bolts that hold it in the middle of the shaft)

The darn thing wont come off! Did I forget to take something off? I think it might have rusted so I cant pull it off. I tried banging on it for an hour and it still wont come off. I also used WD40.

Shouldnt it just slide off? If there is rust, is there a special tool I can use to get it off?

Thank you.

Me: 7 hours later, =(

Did you remove the 3 bolts that secure the carrier bearing to the block?

Yeah I took em off. They were 12mm bolts in a tight space.

mmm they are 14mm. i wonder if you took off the right ones. you may have taken off the 3 bolts that secure the shaft to the carrier bracket.

the ones you want to take off are the 3 14mm bolts that hold the bracket to the block. they are in all in a fairly tough spot to get access to.

--Paul

There are three that are located transversely relative to the car, these hold the carrier bearing to the bracket. Then there are three that are located longitudinally relative to the car that hold the bracket to the engine block. Make sure you remove the correct ones.

If you do remove the correct ones, the longitudinal ones, once you get the third one off, it comes loose, unless the locating dowel is stuck a little, and if that's the case, just tap it with a hammer.

If you remove the transverse ones, everything will be held in securely still, because the carrier bearing is pressed onto the bracket, and held there by the 3 transverse bolts.

Mine was stuck too. I used a wedge and a hammer to brake the axle loose at the support bracket.

guys it is A LOT easier to take the bracket off with the axle (the 3 14mm bolts on the block) then transfer the bracket over to the new axle with it all off the car.

Your right it was 14mm. Oopps. Yes I took em off and beat it with a hammer for an hour.

There were 2(17mm I think) bolts that held onto the engine. I thought about taking those off but they were too hard to get to.

I also tried to wedge and hammer a screwdriver in there. No luck.

you need to get that carrier bearing out of the bracket before the axle will come out of the spindle.

Ahh I just read what you did. Did you remove the two bolts and nuts that secure the spindle to the strut? You need to do that too. Once you do that the assembly will have enough room for you to just smack the end of the axle back and out of the spindle.

If you still need clearance then disengage the tie rod end at the steering knuckle.

I think once you take the strut bolts off you'll be clear.

What I did was take off the driver side CV and stick a screwdriver through the differential and hammer it out that way.

Yeah I did that too. The right side was 17mm and the left was 19mm. I think I just got stuck on the last step.

I had no problems with what was in the wheel well. I guess I would call that the easy part.

Those two you spoke of, there's one more. On the high side. Get that one, and I bet it'll come off.

How do should I get to them? I cant really reach them.

Two of them, the lower one, and the one more towards the centre of the car, I get to by jacking up the car and working from below. The third one, is hard to see. In fact, I do this last bolt blind. It's towards the top of the bracket, and towards the outside of the car. I usually get to this one from the wheel well area.

Sin: Thanks for you comments but those bolts werent a problem. You suggested that I get to the two (2) big bolts that secure it to the engine block. How do you suggest I get to them? They have very limited access to anything. Is there a peice I should remove to gain access?

There are three bolts that secure it to the engine block. You need to find the third one and remove it. Access is limited. I can't remember what tool I used to get mine off. But I do remember that the third one, the one you are probably unaware of, is the one that is obscured, and like I said, I do that one blind/by feel.

My bracket broke where the 3rd bolt was, then I JB welded it back together.

Had the exact same problem. I had to put everthing back together and take it to a mechanic. I was P'....d off because I did all of the really had work and couldnt' close the job..sorry, I know this doesnt' help...but know your not the only one.

Its like the other dude said in the earlier post. I had the same problem and you need to use something to pry with between the bracket you took the 3 bolts out of and the axle and it will pop right out. Took me about a 1hour to do both.

use a u joint and an extension ...dahhhhhh