Driver's Side CV Axle stuck on differential

[Caleb Parker]

Hey guys,

So I'm trying to change my driver's side CV axle and I can't get it off the stub shaft that comes out of the differential. I've tried hammering it, soaking the end with WD40 and everything. It wont even budge after hitting the pry bar with a sledge.

I realise that chances are high that when I do finally get the CV axle out it may take the stub with it. If it doesn't come out with it, can I change the differential axle seal with the stub shaft still in the diff? It's just the drivers side so that it only has the short axle stub that's a few inches long.

Thanks for your help guys!

 

[Caleb Parker]

For these 3rd gens sitting at basically every corner there's surprisingly very little information (and alot of wrong info) on removing a stuck CV axle, so I'll be the guy to shed some light for the next guy.

If your CV axle is stuck, you can internally remove the C clip from inside the differential. May sound scary, but it's really not bad.

I used this video to give me some info on removing the C clip:

In case this video isn't available for some reason by the time you get to this thread, once you pop the diff cover off, theirs a roll pin (usually this roll poin is replaced by a bolt on Chevy's for example) that has to be knocked out with a punch to be able to remove the main center pin for the spider gears. Use a punch and knock the roll pin out from the ring gear side of the diff. Then slide the main pin out, and carefully turn the diff so you can have access onto the C clip of the axle (Hold the spiders gears while doing this and be careful. They WILL pop out of you aren't careful). Push the stuck CV axle into the diff and the clip will be exposed. Once you get the C clip off, put the center pin and the roll pin back into the diff. Scary parts over!

Next slide the old axle out, and get you're new CV axle, axle stud and axle seal ready!


While all this is out of the truck pop your old axle seal out of the diff. I used a small flat head screw driver and lightly hammered it under the outer lip of the seal. Once it popped off, I used a small hammer and LIGHTLY tapped the new seal in. Technically Chrysler specs out a special tool for this, but if you lightly and evenly tap the new seal in, you'll be okay:



Now, tap your new stud into the diff:


Now wobble that new CV axle on:


That's the bulk of it guys. Hope I helped someone someday!

 

[Later2u]

Awesome, thanks.

 

[aheeejd]

I wish I had seen this. Or, maybe I did see something on YouTube & just decided that I didn't want to deal with that. But I ended up using a dremel tool with regular grinder wheels (meaning not csrbide or diamond tipped or whatever). I just made 2 cuts down the side of the cv axle sleeve. It wasn't horrible as it sounds. Went pretty quick. When I put new one on with new clip I put light coating of wheel bearing greese all over the shaft. That was a couple years ago now. No issues.

Just another possible way.

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