2000 Windstar HalfShaft Question

I have a bad rt front half shaft. The boot has a rip in it (although I suspect dirty play by the garage that showed me the problem). I have found one in a local CarQuest in town. My questions are:

1.) What is the size of the nut threaded on the end of the halfshalft running through the spindle?

2.) Is there a torque setting for this nut upon replacement or just tighten it till my hands hurt?

3.) After the nut is removed how do I get the halfshaft loose from the spindle?
Does if press out? Is there a special tool needed? Or does it just fall out upon removal of the spindle?

Any other information on "how to" remove this will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

1) I've never done a Winnie halfshaft, but would guess the nut to be in the neighborhood of 1-7/16" hex. Ford suggests a new nut to be used .. so why not buy it ahead? Then you can find socket to fit. (There may be a new nut supplied with rebuilt halfshaft.) Be sure to completely remove this nut while the tire & wheel are still on and the car is on the ground with hand brake set, tranny in neutral.

2) Final torque the new nut to 184 ft lbs. ... again when tire and wheel are on ground with tranny in N, etc.

3) Never use hammer to remove. This action puts wheel bearings and transmission at risk. In fact, inspect the new/rebuilt half-shaft before accepting. If the end of the threaded stud shows evidence of hammering, I would not accept!

A large gear puller is always nice for this task. AutoZone may include a (special) puller (that uses attachment to two or three wheel studs) in their tool-rental program.

Be careful of connectors going to ABS sensors and tranny speed sensors... I would detach them.

The inboard end of the shaft is held in place (inside the tranny) by a circlip. Can be a nuisance to dislodge, sometimes a prybar against the tranny is required. And going back in ... be sure its well lubricated with clean tranny fluid... and just slam it in with your hands, don't use hammer! Hopefully this circlip will be in-place (not in a separate plastic bag) on the new half-shaft.

On some cars, it makes sense to remove the strut assembly and brake caliper... just to create working space.

Do you find out what the size of the nut is?

[QUOTE=Dig]I have a bad rt front half shaft. The boot has a rip in it (although I suspect dirty play by the garage that showed me the problem). I have found one in a local CarQuest in town. My questions are:

1.) What is the size of the nut threaded on the end of the halfshalft running through the spindle?

2.) Is there a torque setting for this nut upon replacement or just tighten it till my hands hurt?

3.) After the nut is removed how do I get the halfshaft loose from the spindle?
Does if press out? Is there a special tool needed? Or does it just fall out upon removal of the spindle?

Any other information on "how to" remove this will be greatly appreciated.

Did you find out what size the nut is?