So yesterday I went out to a friend's house and we started to change out the CV axles in my 88 yota truck. We are trying to figure out what went wrong. The axles would not come out. I told my friend that we had to remove the nut that holds the bearing and in but he doesn't think so. So we put it all back together until I can find out for sure. I am pretty sure I'm right about this but he didn't wanna have to repack the bearings. I'm right...right?

 

The big axle nut thats like 54mm i think?

How did it not want to come out? did it not slide enough to get it out? was it stuck on something?

 

Yeah it wouldn't slide enough to come out... from the axle flange against the dif it wouldn't slide out and from the outer axle in it wouldn't slide far enough. He said that it was stuck on the steering knuckle. but yeah the nut that's like a 37mm is the one I think has to be removed.

 

So like this?





You just need to remove the shock and the lower balljoint i think

 

yeah we tried that but the lower control arm wouldn't come down. We tried everything to get the arm down so we could just move everything but the stubborn thing wouldn't budge. Someone had worked on it before and mushroomed the ball joints so everything was bound up.

 

I am running into the same problem on my 4Runner. Do you have BJ spacers installed, I was thinking that was part of my problem. I was also replacing the wheel bearings so I had more parts off then you. And I still could not find a way to get the CV's out. I was thinking it may be easier if I just pulled the front diff. It's only a few more blots.

 

Well here's one of my problems Bob... I have NEVER done any work on suspension or drivetrain things so I'm learning... I have no idea if there are bj spacers or not. I just know that the bj's are mushroomed and I am gonna replace them lol. the seals are leaking in my front dif so I'm thinking I will go ahead and replace those as well when we tear it back down. Dropping the dif will be a last resort though if we do that.

 

Put a jackstand under the opposite rear frame from the CV you're trying to get out. Also unbolt the bottom of the shock on the one you're working on. Between those two things you should have enough room to get the CV out. Worked great for me.

 

I had to loosen the three nuts on the lower ball joints to get the axle out of my 95 4Runner and pry the lower suspension arm down with a long 2X4.

 

Easiest way is to pop of the 4 bolts that hold the lower ball joint to the knuckle, and pull it outwards.

Should have been 4 there.

 

I appreciate it guys... hopefully the info keeps coming in cuz I'm writing all of it down. I am not gonna tear into it again and have to put the damned thing back together till the new axles are in haha!

 

x2...

 

when i took mine out, i had to bring the lower A-arm level with the diff. I used a jack, then put a jackstand under it. Then i unbolted the shock in the front...

 

It took me months to change the CV on my 4Runner, and after much disinformation, this was the only thing that worked. You need a pry bar to separate the ball joint from the knuckle, though, and you do have to unbolt the bottom of the shock. At that point, you can lift the knuckle up high enough to slide the shaft out.

 

It also helps if you pop out all of those bolts on the diff side of the flange and replace/modify them to come out when the nut is taken off. That gives you more room to remove the CV axles.

 

it took me minutes to remove my CV joint....
It's not that hard, just make the lower A arm level with the diff-crossmember, then unbolt the shock...

how did it take you months o.0?

 

lol, oh good I'm glad I'm not the only one who cought that!



honestly, the easiest way, though a little more time consuming, looks a little like this






here's a thought too... after romoving the 54mm jam nut and nut, did remember to remove the center bolt and snap ring from the axle stub sticking out. a 12mm if I remember correctly

 

ok, the next time I tear into this thing, hopefully soon, I shouldn't have any troubles at all. I appreciate the help from everyone. Hopefully I won't need any more advice... until the next project begins haha!

 

You're probably right. I'm trying to forget all the details of rebuilding my front end with no driveway.

 

lol I knew which ones you meant dude, no worries