Half shaft replacement

Hey guys, so I've got a 2002 grand prix gtp. I'm in the middle of replacing the passenger side half shaft. I'm taking it off first so I can bring it in and not be charged for the core fee but in taking everything off I've reached a problem. I can't get the "knuckle" to come off and allow me to slide the shaft free of the wheel hub assembly. I took the pin thing off of the lowest bolt and took the bolt off so that I could pry the things apart and allow the knuckle to swing and get the half shaft out. I don't know if I'm explaining all of this correctly or not but I was told it wouldn't be that hard to get this thing free. Should it be this hard? Any help is appreciated!!:smile:

Well I took one of the bolts off for the struts and was able to swing the hub assembly and everything else forward which free'd the half shaft and it came out. In the process one of the two strut bolts didn't want to come out so now it's mushroomed at the end and it wouldn't budge lol. This was much more difficult than the driver side that I did about 2 years ago. :mad: But oh well lol

Mine have been mushroomed a bit too. I just filed them down and reinstalled. If yours are camber bolts you will need an alignment.

The ball joint sometimes comes out hard. I have a "pickle fork" for them, but I only use that if they are being replaced because it rups boots. I have also pried the lower control arm downwards and hit the knuckle with a hammer where the ball joint goes in. This method usually frees the ball joint, but it is sometimes hard without a helper. Autozone and Advance also have a front end puller kit that you can rent that will have a ball joint puller.

But thats all beside the point. You got your shaft out so your golden.

Ugh, I did the axle shaft on my Jeep and it was a snap. These ones just seem like a pain.

Hey Matt, front or rear on your jeep? These arent the hardest to change, I've done worse.

Front on the Jeep.

The fronts on a 00 Silverado, were a piece of triple chocolate cake. Did the wife's truck last summer.