Drive axle removal

Am I being a bit of a wimp? I am removing the drive axles from my
1998 Altima, a task I have never undertaken before. Removing the
passenger side axle posed no problem, but I am unable to remove the
driver side axle. The Haynes manual says either pry the inner CV
joint out at the transaxle, or to insert a screwdriver through the
differential side gears and knock the left side shaft free. I pried
and pried, to no avail, and I hammered on the screwdriver until I
became nervous I would damage something, but the axle remained solidly
in place. Any particular tricks to removing this, or should I get
past my nervousness and hammer away? Thanks in advance for any
input. Art.

"Art" wrote:

> Am I being a bit of a wimp? I am removing the drive axles from my
> 1998 Altima, a task I have never undertaken before. Removing the
> passenger side axle posed no problem, but I am unable to remove the
> driver side axle. The Haynes manual says either pry the inner CV
> joint out at the transaxle, or to insert a screwdriver through the
> differential side gears and knock the left side shaft free. I pried
> and pried, to no avail, and I hammered on the screwdriver until I
> became nervous I would damage something, but the axle remained solidly
> in place. Any particular tricks to removing this, or should I get
> past my nervousness and hammer away? Thanks in advance for any
> input. Art.

The axles are held in by a strong circlip on the shaft. At work I use a rather
thick 3-foot long prybar, and even then I sometimes have to pry in one spot,
rotate the axle, pry a bit more, rotate, pry, rotate, pry... eventually it comes out.
If you're trying to use the same screwdriver you use to install a new knob on
your bathroom door, then forget it. You need something BIG. If you're trying to
punch it out through the differential from the passenger side, I'd suggest a
large diameter flat-ended punch (even a cut-off chunk of broom handle as
long as it isn't bigger than the axle stub) and a big hammer or "personal size"
sledge (2-3 pound). Line up the punch, then haul off and whack that mother!

On Feb 8, 2:22*am, Art > wrote:
> Am I being a bit of a wimp? *I am removing the drive axles from my
> 1998 Altima, a task I have never undertaken before. *Removing the
> passenger side axle posed no problem, but I am unable to remove the
> driver side axle. *The Haynes manual says either pry the inner CV
> joint out at the transaxle, or to insert a screwdriver through the
> differential side gears and knock the left side shaft free. *I pried
> and pried, to no avail, and I hammered on the screwdriver until I
> became nervous I would damage something, but the axle remained solidly
> in place. *Any particular tricks to removing this, or should I get
> past my nervousness and hammer away? *Thanks in advance for any
> input. *Art.

I've found it helps as your prying don't just gradually put more force
but rather try to exert more pressure all at once Like MasterBlaster
said some axles have strong clips.

Art > wrote:
>Am I being a bit of a wimp? I am removing the drive axles from my
>1998 Altima, a task I have never undertaken before. Removing the
>passenger side axle posed no problem, but I am unable to remove the
>driver side axle. The Haynes manual says either pry the inner CV
>joint out at the transaxle, or to insert a screwdriver through the
>differential side gears and knock the left side shaft free. I pried
>and pried, to no avail, and I hammered on the screwdriver until I
>became nervous I would damage something, but the axle remained solidly
>in place. Any particular tricks to removing this, or should I get
>past my nervousness and hammer away? Thanks in advance for any
>input. Art.

Try a little PB Blaster or Break-Free. Then hammer away. You'll ruin
the axle, but that's okay... because if it didn't need to be replaced
anyway you wouldn't be under there.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Art wrote:
> Am I being a bit of a wimp? I am removing the drive axles from my
> 1998 Altima, a task I have never undertaken before. Removing the
> passenger side axle posed no problem, but I am unable to remove the
> driver side axle. The Haynes manual says either pry the inner CV
> joint out at the transaxle, or to insert a screwdriver through the
> differential side gears and knock the left side shaft free. I pried
> and pried, to no avail, and I hammered on the screwdriver until I
> became nervous I would damage something, but the axle remained solidly
> in place. Any particular tricks to removing this, or should I get
> past my nervousness and hammer away? Thanks in advance for any
> input. Art.

Try rotating the axle 180 degrees. They come out (and go in) easier if
the gap in the clip is up.

Art wrote:
> Am I being a bit of a wimp? I am removing the drive axles from my
> 1998 Altima, a task I have never undertaken before. Removing the
> passenger side axle posed no problem, but I am unable to remove the
> driver side axle. The Haynes manual says either pry the inner CV
> joint out at the transaxle, or to insert a screwdriver through the
> differential side gears and knock the left side shaft free. I pried
> and pried, to no avail, and I hammered on the screwdriver until I
> became nervous I would damage something, but the axle remained solidly
> in place. Any particular tricks to removing this, or should I get
> past my nervousness and hammer away? Thanks in advance for any
> input. Art.

You need a pry bar NOT a screwdriver. Two are even better. Put one on
each side of the inner CV joint between the pot and the housing. Then
use a sharp motion to pop the retainer ring free so the half shaft comes
free from the stub shaft.

And unless things are RADICALLY different on that axle from 99% of front
wheel drives the second method (inserting a screwdriver through the side
gears to knock the left side) half shaft free is physically impossible.
Now if your removing the stub shafts that connect to the half shafts
then you can go inside the differential, but i would bet that is NOT
what you are doing.


--
Steve W.

"Steve W." wrote:

> Art wrote:
> > Am I being a bit of a wimp? I am removing the drive axles from my
> > 1998 Altima, a task I have never undertaken before. Removing the
> > passenger side axle posed no problem, but I am unable to remove the
> > The Haynes manual says either pry the inner CV joint out at the transaxle,
> > or to insert a screwdriver through the differential side gears and knock the
> > left side shaft free.

> And unless things are RADICALLY different on that axle from 99% of front
> wheel drives the second method (inserting a screwdriver through the side
> gears to knock the left side) half shaft free is physically impossible.

Yeah, my mind went blank, and I forgot about the pinion shaft (3rd picture)...
http://www.autozone.com/addVehicleId...00c15280078acc

That's why Haynes says use a screwdriver, to get around the shaft.
Art may have missed the driveshaft, and is banging on the side gear?
Anyway, big prybars are still the best.

> differential side gears and knock the left side shaft free. *I pried
> and pried, to no avail, and I hammered on the screwdriver until I
> became nervous I would damage something, but the axle remained solidly
> in place. *Any particular tricks to removing this, or should I get
> past my nervousness and hammer away? *Thanks in advance for any
> input. *Art.

Typically I use a prybar about 12 inches total length when I do this
job. Insert the angled tip between the transaxle side cover and the
inboard edge of the CV axle, and then pry gently to take all of the
play out. I.E. hold the prybar in place with one hand on the metal
portion, pushing slightly to take any play out between the axle and
the differential side gear.

Then you hit the plastic handle portion of the prybar sharply with the
palm of your other hand. Works every time for me, takes the axles
right out without a fight.

I don't know if the altima has self-supporting differential gears, but
a lot of cars DO NOT, meaning if you pull both axles at the same time
the differential side gears can fall down into the transaxle case,
necessitating removal and disassembly of the entire transaxle to fix.
Don't risk it, stick a wooden dowel or similar into the hole left by
the axle you remove first if you intend to have both axles removed at
the same time.

Chris

On Feb 8, 8:52*pm, Hal > wrote:
> > differential side gears and knock the left side shaft free. *I pried
> > and pried, to no avail, and I hammered on the screwdriver until I
> > became nervous I would damage something, but the axle remained solidly
> > in place. *Any particular tricks to removing this, or should I get
> > past my nervousness and hammer away? *Thanks in advance for any
> > input. *Art.
>
> Typically I use a prybar about 12 inches total length when I do this
> job. Insert the angled tip between the transaxle side cover and the
> inboard edge of the CV axle, and then pry gently to take all of the
> play out. I.E. hold the prybar in place with one hand on the metal
> portion, pushing slightly to take any play out between the axle and
> the differential side gear.
>
> Then you hit the plastic handle portion of the prybar sharply with the
> palm of your other hand. Works every time for me, takes the axles
> right out without a fight.
>
> I don't know if the altima has self-supporting differential gears, but
> a lot of cars DO NOT, meaning if you pull both axles at the same time
> the differential side gears can fall down into the transaxle case,
> necessitating removal and disassembly of the entire transaxle to fix.
> Don't risk it, stick a wooden dowel or similar into the hole left by
> the axle you remove first if you intend to have both axles removed at
> the same time.
>
> Chris

Thanks for all the advise. Sounds like I plug my ears, shield my eyes
and flail away....... Art.