Remove & Replace Drive Axles (95 SLE)

[bill buttermore]

Remove & Replace Drive Axles '95 SLE Bonneville

Lift and support car; remove wheel
Remove 10mm bolt holding brake line to inner right fender
Remove stabilizer bar end link
Remove 34mm axle nut; hold hub with big screwdriver in rotor slot
Break spindle (axle shaft) loose from hub with mallet or tool
Remove cotter pin from 18mm ball joint nut; remove nut
Turn steering wheel to lock on same side (for right ball joint, turn to R) From front, split ball joint with fork or lever tool
Turn steering wheel to straight ahead
Push or pry down lower control arm to separate ball joint post from knuckle
Bend ball joint post toward front
Turn wheel to lock on opposite side (for right axle, turn to L)
Push outer end of axle in through hub assembly while pulling knuckle out and toward rear
Pull back knuckle and hold in place with rope or wire to subframe corner
Align axle shaft as straight as possible and safe for outward movement
If the trans has not been drained, place a drain pan under the shaft seal to catch trans fluid when the shaft is removed

For the passenger side axle:
Locate a 24 to 30-inch wood drift (old sledge hammer handle or similar)
From driver's side underneath, place end of drift on inner tripot housing,
Hold drift as close to horizontal as possible between engine and trans
Strike drift with 4-pound hammer to pop shaft past snap ring lock
Keep inner joint perpendicular to trans; lift & pull inner housing straight out
Take care not to drag splines across lip seal

For the driver's side axle:
Use a large 15 to 18-inch heavy screwdriver or a short tire iron
Wedge tool against tripot housing and strike bottom end of tool inward hard with hand to lever shaft out past the snap ring groove

Reverse to install

Note: Make sure the shaft is straight when you install it through the seal. Once the splines have been engaged, the shaft must be pushed in with a forceful motion to compress the snap ring and get the shaft to seat. If you cannot get the shaft all the way in, install the spindle through the hub, straighten the wheel, lower the control arm, and sit down facing the rotor. Put a foot on either side of the rotor, and give a sharp push with your legs to pop the shaft into place.

Do not pull on axle shafts when removing or installing, the inner CV joint can come apart if you do.