axle installation

[HeWhoKillz]

Back to the 93 sentra 1.6 5 speed engine swap. How does one reinstall the drive axles? I tried pushing them in but they refuse to go in. The have the ring at the end around them. Does it need a hit from a hammer or will that hurt the bearings inside? Is there a special way of doing this? Does one go in before another? There isn't alot left to do with the car accept some hoses and alternator. The air conditioner never worked so I want to simply remove it from the car. The power steering will be a pain to get back in just as it was getting off. But the engine is in the car and all wiring has been switched over.

[Moppie]

Sometimes they need a gentle tap with a soft edged hammer just to get them past the clip at the end.

Make sure that clip is sitting correctly in it's little groove first though, if you break that you have to dig it out and find a new one.

And don't go belting the edge of the axle either. If you damage the splines on the end you won't get it back into the hub.

Just a gentle tap with a rubber or leather mallet should be enough. If you don't have one of those then tap a regular hammer against a bit of wood held against the end of the axle.

They will just "click" into place. You will be able to line the splines up and slide the axle part of the way in, until it encounters the clip. Give it a tap, and slide it the rest of the way in until it "clicks" into place.

[HeWhoKillz]

Originally Posted by Moppie

Sometimes they need a gentle tap with a soft edged hammer just to get them past the clip at the end.

Make sure that clip is sitting correctly in it's little groove first though, if you break that you have to dig it out and find a new one.

And don't go belting the edge of the axle either. If you damage the splines on the end you won't get it back into the hub.

Just a gentle tap with a rubber or leather mallet should be enough. If you don't have one of those then tap a regular hammer against a bit of wood held against the end of the axle.

They will just "click" into place. You will be able to line the splines up and slide the axle part of the way in, until it encounters the clip. Give it a tap, and slide it the rest of the way in until it "clicks" into place.

Do they sell new clips? The old ones look worn and warped.Whats the point of them and use of them? Whats so bad about letting the axle hub nut hold everything in place?

[Moppie]

To be honest, I'm not completely sure.
Hopefully Bacon or Curtis, or someone else can answer that.

[HeWhoKillz]

I never knew someone on here named Bacon. haha.

[curtis73]

I just grab the outer CV joint and slam it in. You can hammer on the axle snout but you risk damaging the hub splines. I just use the weight of the axle and pound it in. If it seems reluctant, take it out and spin it 90 degrees or so and try again.

Another thing I sometimes do (depending on the vehicle) is I go ahead and slide the axle into the hub, then swing the hub like a hammer to get it in.

Some just slide in like closing a glove box, others take real convincing.