Can’t get the CV axle back in!

Did the ECGS bushing today. All went well but i can’t get the CV axle back in the diff no matter what i do.

i can get it to go in a bit then twist to feel like it engages the splines but then i can’t get any further. I rotate and still nothing. Can’t hammer it on the tabs on the cup either. Any ideas? Thanks

 

Put the nut on the end and smack it with a hammer it'll go. Make sure the end of the nut is flush with the end of the threaded end of the CV this will protect the threads on ea. Also make sure you have the splines engaged that first little bit. A bit of grease on the C-clip helps keep it centered in its groove in the axle.

 

If you pull the entire assembly a bit and clock it about 5 degrees and push it back in. You keep doing that and eventually it’ll just slide right in. There’s a sweet spot where the c-clip fits perfectly. Some people have said open side up and others say open side down. My experience says you keep trying and it just pops right in without a lot of effort. I’ve never needed to hammer an axle in place.

 

Had this problem one time too, tried every angle possible, nut on the end hitting with a dead blow, c clip up, c clip down, c clip to each size, c clip greased and centered, c clip offset, different CV angles. Started cursing and throwing tools around and it finally went in. Some times they can be a bitch.

 

Mine went in just fine with a couple of swift blows with a hammer and it isn't like you are really pounding on it just using shock force to get the c-clip to compress in then you can just push it in the rest of the way. If your really pounding on it then there is something really wrong. Try some earlier 2000s chevy front axles if you've never tasted what a PITA really is when it comes to CVs.

 

I’ve decided to sleep on it and try it tomorrow! Thanks all..... i came close to throwing some tools so figured it was time to walk away. ( i was also wearing some gear oil by then)

 

I use a pry bar on the slots and hammer with deadblow while holding the cv axle straight on. might take a whack then turn then whack then turn then whack

 

I used a little grease on the end and gave mine as straight of a shove as I could back and forth kinda like putting an old chevy truck in reverse yank yank yank

 

I seem to remember when I did mine, it just required some gentle persuasion and patience. Keep turning it a little at a time and at some point it'll find it's sweet spot and pop in so easy that you'll wonder if you've done it correctly. Mine came out the same way, with just a 12" pry bar. No giant crow bars or wailing away with a hammers and cables. Maybe I just got lucky. Good luck.

 

Good choice. I found the hardest part of doing the EGS bushing was the limited room to swing the hammer to get the bushing in. Felt like I had to hit it like a billion times, but it finally went in.

 

Yes! Maddening!

 

I've always done c-clip open side down and they go right in.
If you're having trouble, the c-clip might be stretched.

 

I always managed to find the spline groove, hold it there and extend the shaft a bit then slam it home with the weight of the axle.

 

How the hell do you hit it with a hammer? It moves all over the place and the joints soak up all of the impact anyway. Not to mention trying to hold the spindle out of the way, hold the CV perfectly inline and still swing the hammer. You must have skills.

 

That’s the way I did it.

 

Called over 20 yrs turning wrenches and some tricks of the trade. You figure out a few things. Oh ratchet straps and bungee cords.

Ratchet strap the spindle out of the way
Compress the joints of the CV so they are bottomed out
Hold the end and make sure it's straight then give a wack
Reposition and repeat the wack it'll go doesn't take a very hard hit.

 

This was my question......

 

I did just like Andrew the adventurer said above... a crow bar has enough angle and the sharp wedge to get into those tabs easily. then you have the curved end to hit with a 3 lb sledge to knock it right in. I think I bungeed or wired axle up so it was more or less straight, then hit it a couple of times and rotate 180 and repeat. It will go right in. Look at the other side to see what normal gap is left.

 

Also I put the c clip with the open end down to start with. Once the spline gear is started I don't think you can hurt anything

 

When I did mine it wouldnt go in till someone on here told me to have the clip down
1 or 2 wacks and it went right in