CV Axle Half Shaft Replacement

I was changing my oil today on my '96 1st gen, and discovered a bit of a grease blowout on the passenger A-arm. After some further investigation I found it to be the half shaft. I think the best thing to do would be to replace the whole thing and rebuild the hub while I am in there. I was planning on doing it next weekend, so I was thinking I would ask for some advice on a few things.

1) Is it bad to drive on it the rest of the week?

2) Is there anything else I should replace or look into while I'm doing the work?

3) Any general advice on approach, tools, or considerations...

I appreciate the help and any advice offered.

 

Make sure you're using jack stands and wheel chocks. It's better to have a lift though. You'll need to disconnect the lower ball joint so do have a tool to do that.

You'll need a couple of at least 12 inch pry bars to easily pop the axle out of the front diff. Also, when you do, gear oil WILL spill out, keep some on hand to refill it or just replace the oil if you haven't done that yet. You may want to look into replacing the output shaft seals as well.

I did this before with my toyota tech buddy but I have auto lockers. I think you have manual locks. I can't really give any further insight. good luck!

 

Thanks for the help! I do have the manual locks. I am going to rebuild that one while I'm in there. As far as the output shaft seals go what kind of work would that take? Where exactly are they? Does it say that in the Haynes manual?

 

Yes, the seals will be mentioned in the haynes book. They literally have the hole that the inner portion of the shafts go in to. Here's a youtube video that shows one. It's the black ring around his finger, not the rust nor the metal looking stuff inside.

 

So I am currently trying to wrap up this project. I got the steering knuckle bolted back down and the CV through the knuckle. It appears that I can't get it to come through any further. The snap ring notch is right where the screwdriver is (see pic). When I push the washer back it sits right on top. I need about an 1/8" to 1/4". Any tips on how I should fit this? I need help since this is my daily driver. Should I undo the CV from the Diff and see if that helps?

 

I replaced my right front axle a couple of months ago. IIRC, I had the same problem - I could not push or pull the shaft all the way through the spindle. Your setup looks different than the way I remember mine. I don't recall any inner threads at the end of the axle.

So I put the spindle nut on anyway and began tightening it up. Lo-and-behold, it pulled the axle shaft through all the way. I didn't have to put any torque on the nut, BTW. I could tell when the shaft was fully seated though by looking at it from underneath the truck and "inside" the wheel.

Hope this helps!

 

He has manual hubs, the axle attaches 100% different.

Although @Rusty_but_Trusty you could use a little bolt in the end of your CV to pull it out a bit, slip on the spacer, then the snap ring. I've had to do that with mine a couple times, also if you have an assistant you can have them push the CV in from the other side to give you the room, the seal at the end of the hub is just pushing the CV out a bit.

 

Thanks guys. I was able to get it after working at it. Got everything closed up now. I appreciate the help.