Well I'm in need of some new CV's, I've seen the install pages on 4x4wire.com and all that but I was wondering what the install is really like, it makes it look easy! Besides spraying the bolts to help gettin'em off, is there any other tricks.

I'm wondering especially about getting the actual half shaft out of the diff, the write-up says use a prow-bar type thing to wedge it out cause its only held in with the snap ring and splines. I want to do it myself but I'm a little skeptical as to how easy it'll actually be, I wouldn't consider myself a novice when it comes to mechanics as I've done a lot of work on my rig, but this just scares me.

I'd love some input on this! Thanks Yotatechers!

Kyle

 

I did this a few weeks ago, follow that write up and you shall be fine, make sure to buy a 35mm socket from checker or your local shop before hand. Access to an impact wrench will make your life so much easier. If you have done brakes and shocks/struts you should be able to do the CV axles. It was tricky for me until I found that write-up and figured out the little tricks to hammering the thing out and in. I am now confident I could do the swap in a couple hours in my garage with ease.

 

P.S. I did this at the same time I did my ball joints so I had to take the lower off anyway and it was a cake walk once I figured everything out, feel free to pm me if you get stuck. Do make sure to have a catch bucket and some cardboard down or something because you will make a mess if you don't drain some diff fluid before you pop that shaft out.

 

Good advice Josh! I can probably gain access to an impact wrench and I've done brakes and strut work already on the runner so hopefully this shouldn't be a big deal.

You did say you hoped you could do it in a couple of hours now...does that mean it took like 8 for starters??! Lol...I mean I know how these jobs tend to go, I think they're going to be easy then I'm still there 5 hours later!

Again, getting the half shaft out of the diff wasn't too bad? That was my main concern, the rest just looks like turning a big breaker bar and getting those bolts free.

 

I couldn't pry the shaft out for the life of me, even with a 30" pry. Get a brass bar, square or round, about 3/4" diameter or so, and line it up with the lip on the inside of the CV shaft and then grab a BFH and knock it away from the diff. Two solid hard hits and mine popped right out. You need to unseat the C clip retainer that is inside, and the hammer works well.

+2 on draining some diff fluid out first. I made a mess thinking I could just jack up one side higher and it would all flow the opposite way. This might work for the passenger CV, but doesn't for the Drivers side.

As with anything steel that you need to smack, you want to be using either a brass bar or a brass hammer... brass is softer than steel and will not ruin the steel when you hit it.

 

I changed my Driver's side CV axle last week. It took me 2.5 hours, that was the first time.

Another trick I followed is put a pry bar in one of the slots on top of the rotor, against the calipers when removing the 35mm axle nut. That keeps the axle/hub assembly from turning and don't need a second person to sit on the brakes while loosening and tightening the axle nut.

Prying out the axle and popping a new one in took quite a few tries, other than that its straight forward.