Any tips from the pros on axle

[spano]

Gettting ready to replace the Pass/Driv axle due to bad CV joint on a 97 Ody. Any tips I might gather would be helpful. From what I gathered the sequence is something like this:
1. 32mm (1 1/4) nut after removing pin.
2. Damper fork.
3. Castle nut.
4. Pray for easy removal of lower arm.
5. remove axle.
Go in reverse.

I have seen the various ways to remove the lower arm thru video and pictures. Hope it goes well, but other than that it's pretty much it right?
Thanks

[wiseguy01]

Originally Posted by spano

Gettting ready to replace the Pass/Driv axle due to bad CV joint on a 97 Ody. Any tips I might gather would be helpful. From what I gathered the sequence is something like this:
1. 32mm (1 1/4) nut after removing pin.
2. Damper fork.
3. Castle nut.
4. Pray for easy removal of lower arm.
5. remove axle.
Go in reverse.

I have seen the various ways to remove the lower arm thru video and pictures. Hope it goes well, but other than that it's pretty much it right?
Thanks

well you have the first part right but you will need a ball joint seperator aka pickle fork and a sledge hammer to seperate the lower ball joint and trust me using the other method with the clamp does not work just use the ball joint seperator and make sure when you use not to tear the boot on the ball joint

[spano]

Is that the part where people have used a lift and 1/2" socket to drop the ball joint loose? I am worried about damaging the boot with the pickle fork so the meathod I was going to use was the following...

Set up the jack and jack up the lower control arm until you can get the ratchet in b/w the knuckle and the LCA.
Insert the 1/2" drive ratchet so that it's as square as possible to the surfaces it's sitting on. This is to ensure that the ratchet won't flop out prematurely.
Than Aplly force down to break free.....

[wiseguy01]

trust me when i say if you go that route you may possibly knock the car off the jack and or jack stands its not gonna pop out easy at all theres tension at the ball joint where it uses the vehicles weight to keep it from popping out its real easy to do just have patience and like i said two or three wacks with a decent sledge hammer will work wonders also you can risk tapering the bolt that the castle nut goes on then you will really have problems just have confidence in the pickle and place it between the boot and the a frame and be careful the hub assembly weighs about 75 pounds i would say so have fun

[spano]

Fun you say?!?!? Thanks for the info and help!!!!