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I'M HAVING TROUBLE REMOVING THE LEFT SIDE DRIVE AXLE

Sent to Car Experts May 22 2006 at 8:36 AM
   

I'M HAVING TROUBLE REMOVING THE LEFT SIDE DRIVE AXLE ON A 94 MAZDA PROTEGE. THE MANUALS SAY: "SIMPLY PRY IT OUT". UH-UH! WON'T BUDGE!
AM I MISSING SOMETHING? WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET IT OUT?

 

Optional Information:
1994 Mazda PROTEGE 1.8L

Already Tried:
LOTS AND LOTS OF PRYING/p>

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $15
Answer
May 22 2006 at 10:26 AM (1 hour and 50 minutes and 4 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark

If all the components are loose and the axle is completely free of obsturction, it will pry out. If the vehicle is not on a hoist this can be difficult. There is a clip on the splined shaft on the drive shaft that engages inside the transaxle. This "c" clip holds this axle in tight and in order to remove it you have to slip a pry bar approx. 3'-4' in lenght between the trans and the axle and pry with force. Sometimes a "hammering" method of prying is necessary, or hitting the joint in the diorection of removal with a sturdy hammer. 50% of halfshafts are difficult to remove even in the profesional industry, the combination between having the vehicle off the ground, long pry bar usually "pops" tham out, if the axle has been replaced previously, or was damaged so bad it may have ruined the internal alignment inside the trans and will be exremely difficult to remove.

-Rip



Please click on "ACCEPT" if I was helpful-or if you still need assistance just reply, before leaving any feedback thanks
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RIP -- Lead Technician -- 100% Positive Feedback on 2111 Car Accepts
A.S.E. Master Technician, Advanced Level, Smog - European, Domestic, & Asian -- Car Category Mentor
Reply
May 22 2006 at 12:19 PM (1 hour and 53 minutes and 29 seconds later)
         
Reply to RIP's Post: IF THE SHAFT WAS REPLACED PREVIOUSLY, AND THE DIFFERENTIAL GEAR GOT MIS-ALIGNED WHEN THE SHAFT WAS REPLACED, WOULD THE TRANSAXLE STILL WORK? AND, THAT BEING THE CASE, WOULD THE TRANSAXLE HAVE TO BE DISASSEMBLED TO REMOVE THE SHAFT? ONE MORE PLEASE. CAN THE INNER PARTS ON THE INNER JOINT ON THE AXLE BE REPLACED WITHOUT REMOVING THE SHAFT? (I KNOW, I'M CRAZY)          THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
May 22 2006 at 12:29 PM (9 minutes and 41 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark

If the shaft was not installed properly, it would not fully engage into the transmission gear where the clip holds it, so most likely it would make a grind noise or come out, causing loss of forward motion, than it may be difficult to re-install from damage to the splines in the trans.

The bearings/balls, and cage cannot be serviced separatly, the shaft will have to come out.

Even as tough as it may seem, I haven't had a shaft permanently stay in the trans, when you remove it is a different story, if the trans was damaged from a prior install, or damaged during this removal the new shaft may not go into the trans, in which case the trans will come out. In some rare cases i've had to "torch" the axle in half, than heat the joint, so that we gain access from thermal expansion and the joint will usually come out. This is for the worst case senarios, since the heat can casue further transmission failure.

Your not crazy, removing driveshafts can even be difficult for the professional, if you don't have enough work space from under the vehicle, this is your key. If your can raise the vehicle at least 2' off the ground with heavy duty jack stands, you may be able to get the prybar in there better with more levarage, or be able to get a couple of good strikes with a hammer on it.

Rip



Please click on "ACCEPT" if I was helpful-or if you still need assistance just reply, before leaving any feedback thanks
Picture
RIP -- Lead Technician -- 100% Positive Feedback on 2111 Car Accepts
A.S.E. Master Technician, Advanced Level, Smog - European, Domestic, & Asian -- Car Category Mentor
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