94 Camry 4cyl--How to get drive shaft out of transaxle

[majones]

Hi-

I have a 94 camry 4cyl auto and am following the factory service manual to remove the drivers side drive shaft from the trans axle--I want to replace the shaft seal which is leaking. I have it apart down to where I need to pry the shaft out of the transaxle but having trouble getting it out. I don't have the hub nut wrench the manual recommends am using or trying to use a pry bar without much luck. Is there fastener holding the shaft into the transaxle (i have the other end free of the wheel hub)? Thanks for any advice.

[DeltaP]

When you have it down to where you are the axle is only held in by a puny little snap ring on the end of the splined shaft. When you do get it out and look at it yer gonna laugh! You're workin on the shorter shaft,the drivers side. Some times they yank right out by hand and some can be a biotch. Try to support the shaft straight and get a good grip and position on that prybar. I've also learned to lift that car as far as you can,safely,supported on jackstands. That gives you more leverage from better positions. HTH
Be careful not to bugger up the seal riding surfaces on the shaft if yer reusing it.

[majones]

I haven't managed to get the axle auto of the transaxle yet. Potentially dumb question, there is a flange with 6 bolts around where the shaft goes into the transaxle. The manual instructed to loosen these to finger tight and then pry out the axle...which I did (all but prying out the axle part...sigh.) My question, the flange is pulling away from the transaxle, does the shaft and this piece come out together or does the shaft pull through it? thanks.

[jdmccright]

The shaft and flange should come out as one piece. When I had to replace mine I don't recall loosening the six Allen bolts. The shaft portion that enters the transaxle differential is splined and at the end is a spring C-clip. Prying the drive shaft out will compress the clip and release the shaft. Pry slowly and firmly with a big pry bar and a good positioning. As noted, make sure the car is well supported. It can take alot of force to get that clip to release.

[Daniel M. Dreifus]

Originally Posted by majones

Hi-

I have a 94 camry 4cyl auto and am following the factory service manual to remove the drivers side drive shaft from the trans axle--I want to replace the shaft seal which is leaking. I have it apart down to where I need to pry the shaft out of the transaxle but having trouble getting it out. I don't have the hub nut wrench the manual recommends am using or trying to use a pry bar without much luck. Is there fastener holding the shaft into the transaxle (i have the other end free of the wheel hub)? Thanks for any advice.

There's a secret. I had the exact same problem and an excellent local mobile mechanic had the answer.

First, you need a decent pry bar. The pry bar I'd been using came from Harbor Freight and was essentially junk. It would flex when you pried on it. Went to NAPA and spent around $30 on a really solid pry bar, plus I've since found it really useful elsewhere, like for tensioning belts.

Here's the secret. The circlip that rests in a groove in the axle inside the transaxle case obviously has an open end. You need to keep turning the axle until you're prying when that open end is facing up. So you pry with reasonable force, then turn the axle a bit and pry again. When you hit the right spot, it should pop right out.