Axle nightmare - How to remove them the easy way

[JDS60R]

Can't find a cheaper or hydaulic one.

[wheelsup]

Sounds good thanks! As for the nut needing to be on the hub to avoid damaging the wheel bearing how much of the axle needs to be there? I'm not saying my outer CV did separate I'm asking if I can separate it since my inner CV separated. Thus I won't have the connecting rod flopping around while the car is rolled around.

Just the part that goes into the hub. Then tighten it down.

Also they are making this too hard.





That is all you need to do. Do it gently (small taps with hammer) and it'll pop right out. No prying needed. You are pressing on a transaxle for pete's sake, they make them out of strong metal .

If you are worried, make a wedge out of wood and go to it!

P.S. There is no damage

[Mike850]

Get a "wonderbar" - one of them small crowbar things, and hammer that in there.

That SHOULD get the clip loose for most - I had to end up hammering a big crowbar in there and then jumping on the stupid thing.

My car recently started vibrating bad in front. After inspecting underneath I determined my driver's side CV joint was toast so I ordered a new one. By grasping the axle shaft with my hand I could wiggle it back and forth. So that sounds like the inner joint is gone. (The passenger side is tight and the boot is not torn.)

My question: to remove the driver's side axle, I have read a lot about this "circlip" which I envision to be a type of retaining clip. Normally retaining clips have to first be compressed before something can be removed. To remove the axle, do I need to somehow compress the circlip first (with pliers) so the axle will slide out? I'm afraid if I use a prybar to force out the axle, the clip would catch and it might break a chunk of the aluminum transmission housing off?? In short, does the circlip need to be compressed first to release the axle?? Thanks!!

[BEJinFbk]

The clip is on a groove in the axle shaft that's inside the housing.
It just slips part way into a groove in the case to prevent the axle from walking out.
In this case it's more of a detent clip than a retaining clip.
The action of pulling the axle out will compress the clip.
As stated above, sometimes it needs a little "help".
Mine was a breeze.

[Brucebo]

go to your local store and pick up a large 3 jaw or more gear puller. Place the middle shaft of the axle (it even has a little indentation to receive it) and the jaws on the wheel hub. Loosen your control arms so the hub can pull away from the axles .. then Turn .. and voila!

www.princessauto.com/view-all-products-in-shop?keyword1=pulley+puller

Many people use rubberized gunk to keep the spindle locked into the hub. The puller can evenly remove it regardless what is glueing it in.

Too much whacking on the ends of the axles could cause some issues including damaging the threads to the retaining nut threads.

Happy repairs!

I believe he's talking about getting it out of the tranny, held in by the circlip, not getting it out of the spindle.

[Mike850]

Yes, that is correct. I am talking about removing the driver's side bad axle (which would include removing from the tranny) and replacing it with a new one. I have read on here about people having to deal with this "circlip" which apparantly holds (or prevents from coming out) the axle assembly to the transmission. I needed to know exactly where this circlip is and whether its removed or compressed to allow axle removal. I did not want to force the axle out of the tranny if there was something retaining it and risk breaking off a chunk of the tranny housing. My thinking is if the circlip is designed to prevent the axle from coming out then it must be removed (or depressed) before the axle can be removed.
-Mike

[jblackburn]

It needs to be compressed yes - it is basically a small springy clip that holds it in and all you need to do is get something in between and it will pop right out. Depending on the space/angle you are working on it in, an edge of a crowbar or large flathead screwdriver (I have one that I love and use for prying on almost everything) in between the axle and transmission should do the trick to break it free. I wouldn't worry about it getting lodged in the transmission; it's not going to be rusty and brittle.

[erikv11]

The circlip is around the axle shaft, just inside the transmission housing. It is designed to compress as you pull out the axle shaft, you don't have to mess with the cli pper se just remove the axle without ruining the CV joint.

I have tried crowbars and they can make it easy or be a real pain. When they were a pain I worried about damaging the bell housing. I have not tried a gear puller. I have used a 5/8 inch Crafstman chisel and it was SUPER easy to remove the driver's side axle that way.

http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/index.ph ... side-axle/

[cn90]

...In this case it's more of a detent clip than a retaining clip...

1+, BEJinFbk is absolutely correct.

I wrote the CV Boot DIY here: DIY: 1998 V70 Axle CV Rubber Boots Tips/Tricks:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=29716

The only thing that holds the axle inside the Trans housing is a clip, and yes it acts like a detent clip and that is all:

[johnnchrisr]

To remove the axle on the driver's side of my '98 S70, I took a large pair of vice grips and attached them to the handle of a large flathead screwdriver. I then placed the blade of the screwdriver between the transmission housing and the axle assembly (coming up from the bottom) with one hand while grasping and pushing the vice grips forward with the other. This caused a twisting motion of the screwdriver, which caused the axle to immediately pop free of the transmission. This required surprisingly little force.

Chris