96 855 Seeking easier way to remove front axle

[JimBee]

I've done this before and ended up with a more tricky reassembly than I think should be necessary.

I'm thinking that if I hang the caliper from the spring, loosen both knuckle-to-strut bolts, removing the lower one, unbolt the top end of the sway bar link, remove the ball joint post retainer bolt and pull the post from the knuckle—then I might be able to just swing the hub-knuckle assembly upwards (hinging on the knuckle-to-strut upper bolt) and slide the axle out of the hub.

Or maybe with the hub free to swing upward, I can pull it from the transmission first, then from the hub.

Will this work?

[erikv11]

When I remove an axle, I take out the two control arm bolts where it mounts to the subframe. That's it.

Drop the control arm, break free the axle, swing the hub out (and toward the rear of the car a bit) and pull out the axle. Don't stress the rubber brake line, you won't have to.

[kahl]

I guess there are many ways, the one I use is to hang caliper on spring, remove the strut from spindle, turn spindle to the right and down. Axle can be removed from hub. To me this is quick and easy. Works
for left and right side.

[abscate]

You can also drive the axle hub towards the inside without removing any of this stuff.

The problem is you break the CV joint and then have to do an axle replacement with one of the methods above.


Learned the hard way when I did my FWB.

DONT do this.