LF axle - just pulls out of transaxle

quahog pearl · Post by **quahog pearl** » 06 May 2013, 20:30

2003 S60 5-sp. LF axle free from control arm and front hub. Is it just retained in transaxle with collapsible spring clip on axle end so I can pull it out? sorry about the noob question, just don't want to break it. BTDT

Post by **vtl** » 06 May 2013, 21:43

Yes. Use pry bar.

Tonyx · Post by **Tonyx** » 07 May 2013, 06:52

Don't be afraid to use wide cold chisel and 3lb sledge hammer to wedge it in. My driver side halfshaft had dusting of rust when it finally came out. Took quite a bit of force to get it moving.

Post by **IdahoBob** » 13 May 2013, 22:28

I'm always leering about prying against cast parts, aluminum castings especially, and metal-on-hollow- metal prying in general.
I used a nail puller to get an axle loose. It's a thin flat strip (may 3/16ths thick, 2" wide) bent at a 90 degree angle at one end. I thick mine were made by Stanley. They cost less than $7, and will last a lifetime. Check the carpenter's tools at your local hdwe store or lumber yard.
I held a paint stir stick flat against the trans case, slid the short end of the nail puller behind the end of the axle, and then pried (gently) against the stir stick. The wood distributes the force somewhat, and reduces the point load of metal-on-metal prying.
I worked around the end of the axle, about 45 degree at at time, just giving a little pressure at each pry point. As I went around I increased the force each next full circle. Eventually, I was prying at just the right angle, and the axle just popped out.
You're not trying to gorilla the thing out as much as you're tryign to figure out where to apply the force to line up the splines jsut right, to relieve the load on it, and have it pop out.

Happy Motoring!