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Driver side Axle won't stay in

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Old 12-03-2015 | 12:43 PM
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Driver side Axle won't stay in

2000 Infinity I30. I've replaced a lot of axles in my day and never had one that won't stay in. I can feel it go in but as soon as I begin to reattach the hub assembly it pulls back out. Easy answer I guess is that the retainer clip on the end of the shaft is worn but before I go try and buy one I thought I would ask here. When it does go in it feels a little loose and like I said, very easy to pull right out.
Old 12-03-2015 | 02:23 PM
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Let me say too that i just swapped the transmissions. Both are non limited slip...I can see right through them both.
Old 12-03-2015 | 03:49 PM
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Originally Posted by bobbyclary
Let me say too that i just swapped the transmissions. Both are non limited slip...I can see right through them both.
I just swapped my tranny as well. Fun job right :/. The ring on the end is still present correct? What I did was get in there where it needs to be and then I just gave it a real good hard shove. Don't be gentile with it cause you're probably not going to get it. Unless the ring is badly worn once it's in all the way I can't see it coming out. I think you really just need to give it a good shove in there. Just make sure you're all the way in. You'll feel it when you get it.
Old 12-03-2015 | 04:27 PM
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Yeah, and I just did the upper oil pan seal too! I'm pretty sure it's seating just won't stay. Called my local parts house and they have the ring so I think I'll give that a try and see what happens. Thanks for the help Mattx!
Old 12-03-2015 | 08:07 PM
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Originally Posted by bobbyclary
Yeah, and I just did the upper oil pan seal too! I'm pretty sure it's seating just won't stay. Called my local parts house and they have the ring so I think I'll give that a try and see what happens. Thanks for the help Mattx!
Probably your best bet if you're sure it's going into place. It can't hurt and it will eliminate any guessing.
Old 12-03-2015 | 08:09 PM
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Originally Posted by bobbyclary
Yeah, and I just did the upper oil pan seal too! I'm pretty sure it's seating just won't stay. Called my local parts house and they have the ring so I think I'll give that a try and see what happens. Thanks for the help Mattx!
Damn you've been busy. Did you have the luxury of a shop and lift or did you have to jack stand it?
Old 12-04-2015 | 07:21 AM
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Used jack stands! Wasn't so bad just very time consuming. I just hope it all works when I'm done.
Old 12-04-2015 | 11:00 AM
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Originally Posted by bobbyclary
Used jack stands! Wasn't so bad just very time consuming. I just hope it all works when I'm done.
Me too. It wasn't too bad the hardest time I had was getting the new tranny lined up. I didn't have a tranny jack.
Old 12-04-2015 | 03:23 PM
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I used a floor jack too! The trans is so heavy and a pain to line up. Having a hoist and a tranny jack would of been so much easier but you use what you got!
Old 12-05-2015 | 05:43 AM
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That upper oil pan is a lot of work. I did my 6-speed and the wifes auto this year to get at the rear main seals. These are some of the more difficult trannys to fit.

Harbor freight sells a pretty good tranny jack for working on the ground. I've used it a few times when I didn't have access to a lift. Well worth the money.

For the clip, you might try just spreading it open a bit. Just not too much or it wont go in. Once it's all together the axle wont be going anywhere.
Old 12-14-2015 | 10:38 AM
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OK. So I replaced the clip. Axle came out when I was tightening the axle nut on the hub. Bought a new axle. Installed it and to make sure it was seated I lined it up straight and placed a piece of wood against the end and hit it 4-5 really good blows. This time the axle stayed in place during reassembly but when I started the car (on the stands) and put the tranny in drive the axle immediately can out. Is it possible the trans is no good? This job is for a friend who bought a used trans from the wrecker to replace his old one and I'm getting frustrating with all of the time I'm putting in to getting this done.
Old 12-14-2015 | 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by bobbyclary
OK. So I replaced the clip. Axle came out when I was tightening the axle nut on the hub. Bought a new axle. Installed it and to make sure it was seated I lined it up straight and placed a piece of wood against the end and hit it 4-5 really good blows. This time the axle stayed in place during reassembly but when I started the car (on the stands) and put the tranny in drive the axle immediately can out. Is it possible the trans is no good? This job is for a friend who bought a used trans from the wrecker to replace his old one and I'm getting frustrating with all of the time I'm putting in to getting this done.
I'm sorry but I don't recall you saying which side this was?
Old 12-14-2015 | 11:48 AM
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Hi Mattx!

I put it in the title. It's the driver side.
Old 12-14-2015 | 12:40 PM
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Originally Posted by bobbyclary
Hi Mattx! I put it in the title. It's the driver side.
Hey yea sorry I missed that. That's the easier side. It a little easier to get a good push on that side. Your ring has a little play in it with a gap between the two ends right?? What I mean is there's a space in the ring where they meet to make a circle?
Old 12-14-2015 | 01:09 PM
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Yes. It's a new axle. I tried spreading it out a bit but it still popped out.
Old 12-14-2015 | 02:07 PM
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Originally Posted by bobbyclary
Yes. It's a new axle. I tried spreading it out a bit but it still popped out.
Only thing I could say is try and spread it out a little more. Or maybe somethings up with the tranny or maybe wrong axel?? I'm just throwing ideas at this point it's hard if it's not there in front of you.
Old 12-14-2015 | 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by bobbyclary
OK. So I replaced the clip. Axle came out when I was tightening the axle nut on the hub. Bought a new axle. Installed it and to make sure it was seated I lined it up straight and placed a piece of wood against the end and hit it 4-5 really good blows. This time the axle stayed in place during reassembly but when I started the car (on the stands) and put the tranny in drive the axle immediately can out. Is it possible the trans is no good? This job is for a friend who bought a used trans from the wrecker to replace his old one and I'm getting frustrating with all of the time I'm putting in to getting this done.
Make sure you have the right transmission. This might have come out of a different year car than they thought. It might also be a part that crosses over from other vehicles, like a Quest van, that might use different axles or have different tranny options. There should be a code stamped on the case somewhere. Others can help identify exactly what you have.
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