CV Halfshaft replacement

If you've seen my other threads, you'll see that I'm trying to diagnose a clicking/chattering/rubbing sound on my 99 escort. I'm going to try bearings first, but then I'm planning to replace the halfshaft. Anyone replaced one on a 99 Escort?

I've read a great article in Popular Mechanic that makes it look pretty easy, but I'm a bit concerned about the part where I pry it out of the tranny. With the Escort do you need to remove any split rings, or can I just pry it out?

Thanks!

Bob

There are no split rings to take off. You just pry it out. It takes quite a bit of force on an Escort. A very large screwdriver and a solid rap with a hammer works well. Be careful about getting into the seal. After removal, place a couple 7/8 inch dowels in the side gears to keep them from falling down into the transmission. A broom handle cut down works good.

OK...Just to finish the story...
I started Friday night trying to get the axle nut off. Broke my breaker bar. Went and got another one, broke that too.

Heated up the nut with a torch and sprayed PB blaster on it (the torch helps pull the PB blaster up into the threads. Did that several times and got a new breaker bar Saturday. Still couldn't break it loose, so I started cutting with the Dremel, since I was going to replace the half axle anyway, I didn't care if I bunged up the axle.

Got almost through in three places, but kept destroying the cutting wheel when I got to the inside flange. Broke out the cold chisels...and as I started tapping away, the nut started spinning....go figure.

Got the hub off, and started trying to get the half axle out of the transmission. There is NO room to work back in there. Seriously...I could get a small pry bar into one small section, and I had about 3 inches of clearance...it was a pain. Broke a prybar. Then I got smart and got the old-fashioned goose-neck nail puller I borrowed from my wife's grandfather. Got that seated in place, grabbed a 4 foot piece of pipe...and it popped right off.

Of course, this was all in the rain, and I was covered with mud and the stickiest grease I've ever encountered. But the reassembly with like clockwork. I also saw that the boot on the ball joint was shreaded, so I changed that as well.

Thanks for all of your help.

Bob

Did that fix your initial problem?

The noise, yes...the vibration, no. I think the bearings also need replaced (and since I took the entire steering knuckle off) and it may need aligned.

Bob

Could the vibration be coming from a wheel that is out of balance or an out of round tire?

did the tranny losed some fluid when you removed you cv shafts? because mine broke in 2 and I don't want to remove the part that is left in the tranny, I'm afraid that if I do, the tranny will get empty

did the tranny losed some fluid when you removed you cv shafts? because mine broke in 2 and I don't want to remove the part that is left in the tranny, I'm afraid that if I do, the tranny will get empty

Some came out, but not much.