I am replacing the front passenger side CV Axle on my 2003 Maxima. I have the axle out of the wheel assembly and have moved up to the carrier bearing where the axle is braced (between the wheel and the automatic transmission).

I cannot figure out how to get a wrench with leverage on the top two bolts. The bottom one I can probably get with enough tenacity, but the top two are monsters. I have tried a two foot extension, but I don't seem to have the clearance to get it through.

What do people use to get these bolts off?

 

1/4 ratchet with swivel and extension (I don't remember the combos needed). Even with my jumbo hands it's not a huge deal. You just have to be steady, so it doesn't slip off.

SOAK the whole thing in lube. I've had to PUNCH those suckers out b/c they're oxidized in there so bad. And don't forget to grease the **** out of it for reinstallation.

 

Been there, done that. I used a combo wrench racheting, I think it's a 13mm bolt, not sure, it takes some time and patient to get it off since the bolt is very long.

 

I used a combo too ,small 4" 12mm wrench to brake them loose and a ratcheting wrench to get them all the way out

 

My bolts cane out easy. All the threaded parts on the cv are broken and my bolts are gone. Picked up a new cv yesterday. Picked up a bunch of bolts and will see what fits. Don't know how they broke?????

I used a wrench and it took forever on my 2k maxima

 

I used a 12 mm socket on a 12 inch long extension connected to a u-joint on a 6 inch extension. Down here in the south, we don't have the road salt corrosion problem and the bolts came out easily.

 

To clarify, the bolts are easy enough, but the axle can be cemented in there (car was not even rusty).

I literally used a chisel and hammer and pounded the **** out of it for a few mins.

 

This is also the method I use to remove the carrier bolts. Run the 12in. extension through the engine cradle and the 6in to get access to put a ratchet on.

I have had to use an air hammer/chisel to remove the axle from the carrier bearing before. No fun.

 

slip the axle nut socket over the end of the combo and break it loose.

 

The shortest open wrench you have, nimble hands, patience as you turn the bolt 1/24 turn at a time

 

I leave the brace in place. Just use heat and the axle/bearing will come out.

 

Smack a chisel in between after you get the bolts out to separate the bearing from the support.

 

what do you gain by bumping a 2 month old thread and repeating info that has already been stated?

 

for the archives. Three years from now a 2003 max owner may want a good way to break those PITN bolts loose without removing the exhaust tube.

 

good call, because the other posts saying the same thing will be deleted in 3 years