my three toyotas

I have a 1996 T100 with full time hubs and am trying to replace the passenger front drive axle. Got the 6 nuts off of the bolts. It appears that the bolts need to somehow come out so the axle can be dropped down and removed. Before I tear something up, do those bolts come out? How do they come out? Are they pressed in or do they unscrew? If I don't have to take them out, how the heck do I get the drive axle out?

I'm not familiar with 4x4 parts. The truck has 240,000 miles and never has had any 4x4 parts replaced.

I apologize if this question has been repeated. I did a search and found nothing.

Zpd426

You should have enough room to pull the axle away from the center diff without taking those bolts out. Try moving the A arm up or down to get enough play to clear the bolts from the holes. Also make sure you have the spindle side free (snap ring removed, the bolt at the end of the axle etc)

welcome to Yota tech!

my three toyotas

Thanks!

Yes, I have the snap ring off and the bolt out. It appears loose, and seems like it would slide right out if not for the bolts. If I could only get those bolts out, it would drop down and I could pull it out. I didn't think about moving the wheel end up and down for extra play. I'll have to try that tomorrow. Too cold out now!!

Right now I have it sitting on a jack stand, making the brake/rotor hang down.

It seemed to me that the bolts weren't made to come out. I'm glad to hear there are options! Thank-you very much!!!

Zpd426

No prob. Use your jack and play with that arm I bet you will get it.

Also if you still cant get enough play those inner CV cups that are bolted to the diff have a cap on the back and if you pull the cup toward the outside wheel hard enough the inner cv will pop that cap off and let you slide it out.

Of course you will expose the inner cv to the elements and whatever dirt is right there on your truck as well as letting out your grease which by now is most likely more liquid and might make a mess.. But if you are replacing the whole thing anyways it doesnt matter if you get dirt in there.

my three toyotas

Thanks so much for the tips. Getting dirt in there is not an issue. When I took the bands off of the CV boot and pulled it back, dirt, muddy water, nasty grease, and chunks of metal came out, including a couple of huge ball bearings. You think it needs replaced?! No wonder it was making noise!

I'll try to get it out today. I'll give an update, hopefully a good one, later this evening.

Thanks again to everyone for all the help!!

my three toyotas

I jacked up the brakes/rotor and the shaft almost came out. I had to remove the bolt holding the shock - the bolt head was in the way. Once I removed that, it came right out. Got the new one installed. Truck is on the road again!

Thanks SO much for the help! I couldn't have done it without your knowledge, as I would have never thought of jacking it up!

By the way - NICE truck!! Yours looks a LOT better than mine!

Zpd426

No prob, glad to help. Its a pain messing with the cvs the first time you do it.

Thanks, ya Ive put some work into it. Im looking to get some high angle inner cvs after a 4 inch lift and some dual rate coils... Im hoping to get 14" out of it eventually.. Depending on what the upper ball joint wants to do.