I managed to get the driverside axle out, but I can't get the new one in so I tried to pull the otherside axle out and it won't budge, any thoughts?

 

the internet told me the pass. side is held in with 3 bolts on a bracket and you need to impact hammer/tap it out because its 'pressed' in. but then again, this is only what i heard on the internets. you could always look at it, that could be a giveaway.

 

yeah I got those three bolts out (they were put in backwards!!!) and i tried tapping through the driverside like it says in the FSM, nothing it actually seems like it's welded on. plus I put the driverside one in and I think i hear it click (engage) but it isn't flush against the transmission, would tightening it against the steering column work cuz it doesn't say that anywhere. I'll try to get a longer screwdriver to hammer it out can anyone tell me what size is suitable?

Also did anyone have to adjust the little circular clip that comes on the new ones? I put a bit of grease on them hoping that would do the trick but I'm thinking I might have to compress them a bit because they do stick out significantly (more than the ones on the axle I pulled out.

 

Yeah those passanger sides can be a royal pita, most of the time now I don't even bother undoing those three 12mm bolts, seriously, I know better unless it has been out recently it's nearly impossible, it's not that there pressed in, they just get all rusty and corroded and seize up really bad. Heres what I do almost all the time now. Just remove the entire support bracket, there are 3 14mm bolts, there kinda hard to get at but I have no problems. Once you remove the entire bracket, remove the connector for your oil-pressure sensor, and don't be suprised if you still crack the plastic part of it, you need to flip the support bracket around and do what you have to do in order to squezze it past everything that gets in the way, it's tricky but take my word for it, it will come out if you do it just right. this is the way I do it almost all the time now. Once the axle & support bracket is out it's very easy to bash the hole sup[port bracket to get it off. Also, if for some reason you are doing alot more major work on your car and have the engine crossmember out it is much easier because you can use a jack on the front header/y to swing the motor forward for more clearance, then it becomes almost to easy.

 

got it I might try that, but how did you get the Axles in I push the passenger side in but it won't "flush" against the transmission, i even make sure the serations are good but still nothing, do I have to clamp down on the retainer clip or something?

 

I make sure the break of the circlip is at the top when I first insert it (just as a safety measure so the sharp edge has no possibility of getting caught) Then bang it in with a rubber mallet.

 

Ok, i got it done but MAN THAT WAS A B*tch!!! I got the passenger side out like you said and tried to push the drivers side in and it went. Then I put the passengerside in and drove it with a malet. I need to get some GL-4 in it now before I test drive it.

Would I do it again? F*ck no, that was hell in a handbasket.

 

Ok I put everything back together but I noticed that the ball nut on the driverside strut/disk assy. is a bit loose when I was taking it apart I thought it was normal, but when i checked the passengerside it is significantly tighter, I checked the FSM and it says I require a special tool to replace/tighten it did any of you guys get around this using normal tools?

 

The balljoint is loose? If it is, it has to be replaced, there's no way of 'tightening them up'. If it's just the nut, then tighten it up with a wrench.

 

the ball joint is there but there is a bit of slack on it.

 

Never mind I re-checked and they are Ok, they are just in dire need of an alignment now :-S

 

hahaha, rookie!

Hey think of it this way, in addition to saving a few hundred bucks, you are now that much better at working on cars, if you can do that passanger side axle it means you can handle doing your tranny

 

I'm working on the tie rods now cuz they need to be replaced.