93 front shaft pix

[daddy0_4]

Hey guys need help. Son called yesterday and said front end is POPPING ocassionally when turning so he calls tonight freaking out that its popping almost all the time. I'm obviousily thinking cv's but not sure. Anyway does anyone have any good pix off the front drive shaft? I thought I could talk him through removing the shaft till I get there (were driving up at xmas) then I can check it out. I'm assuming the brav will still drive without front shaft??. Any help would GREATLY be appreciated. Thanks (I searched this and the how to forums but didn't find anything)

[ericn1300]

don't bother taking off the front drive shaft. even if it is the CV joint is going south pulling the shaft won't help much. bad CV's usualy aren't a safty issue, should be safe to drive as is until you get there.

[daddy0_4]

Thanks Eric. You don't know how my son drives .lol. so if I understand you correctly if one of the cv's lets loose it won't cause any problems? Will the car still move? can't the axle just fall out? I've doon cv's on my wifes' voyager and also on older rabbits but not on the bravada's. Also after posting last nite my son called me and said on his way home it didn't make any popping noise, so I'm thinking something else is wrong.

[Silver39]

A couple of years ago, I was driving thru Montana and started noticing a "clicking" when turning corners, first thought was CV joints, but wasn't really sure, took it into a really small Chevy dealer in White Sulfur Springs, the mechanic hopped in the seat and we took a drive, when it finally started making noise, he instantly said it was a Universal in the rear drive shaft, took it to the shop and left it, went and had lunch and returned about a half-hour later, he had already changed it and only charged $42!, saved the original equipment old one and it was all powder that fell out of it, no trace of lube (factory units have no grease fitting) problem solved cheaply......

[daddy0_4]

Thanks Silver(hiho?lol) Thanks< my son is pretty sure the noise is coming from the front but can't tell which side, but now (as of today) it's only making the noise once in awhile so I'm thinking it's not the cv's and maybe (hopefuly) it's the sway bar.

[Silver39]

Silver is for my hair, 39 is year of birth, might take a look at the front driveshaft universals also, my noise came and went and was really hard to identify as to location.....

[daddy0_4]

Thanks silver.Didn't mean anything bad with the hiho it just popped into my head. Hopefuly like eric said it won't become a major issue before we get there at xmas. My biggest concern is that the car doesn't just stop moving, both of our sons share it and they both work(only car)

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by daddy0_4

Thanks Silver(hiho?lol) Thanks< my son is pretty sure the noise is coming from the front but can't tell which side, but now (as of today) it's only making the noise once in awhile so I'm thinking it's not the cv's and maybe (hopefuly) it's the sway bar.

you can test the sway bar bushings for noise by bouncing the vehicle. they also make noise when braking hard coming into the driveway, as my load leveler demonstrated the other day. going to have to get around to those someday.

[daddy0_4]

Thanks eric. Do the sway bar pop or squeak? I just find it odd that the popping was so bad,any turn he made no mater how hard it was, it would pop. Now it is very intermittent that's why I'm thinking something besides cvs. Iwould think once they start to pop they keep it up till they either go or are replaced.

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by daddy0_4

Thanks eric. Do the sway bar pop or squeak? I just find it odd that the popping was so bad,any turn he made no mater how hard it was, it would pop. Now it is very intermittent that's why I'm thinking something besides cvs. Iwould think once they start to pop they keep it up till they either go or are replaced.

worn bushings will generaly just squeak, but could make a popping noise when extremly cold and rode hard. the first time i heard the load levler bring her rig in hard i thought it was the brakes. the bushings are a quick, easy, cheap fix and probabaly long overdue on a '93.

[jharris26]

i had a popping noise when turning as well, turned out my transfer case was getting low on fluid

[daddy0_4]

Well we are getting ready for the trip to Cincy.I just found the how to replace cv shafts in Auto Zone site. It states to use a hub press to push axle out of hub.Has anyone replaced their cv's? and do I need the press or can I use a brass hammer/punch to get them out.Thanks to all for all the input.

[Chris Stewart]

I used a square bar I had laying around...1X1X6 long, strong C-clamps and some old sockets the same diameter as the axle with the libral use of hammer on the bar center. Tighten the clamps on the bar holding the socket against the axle-hit the bar-retighten the clamps-hit the bar, you get the idea...
I loosened the hub bolts but didn't remove then completely until I had to, to finish sliding the hub off the axle.
Of course a borrowed tool designed for GM SUV hub pulling would be slicker and much faster.

[daddy0_4]

Thanks Chris but I'm not sure how you positioned the c clamps- you put the socket against the axle, the bar across the socket and the c clamps pulling on the bar so as to push the axle through the hub, so one foot of the clamp is on the bar, where do you position the other foot of the clamp (and how large of a clamp?). The device shown in the how-to had three legs that attached on the wheel studs with a screw through the center thus pushing the axle. Dave

[Chris Stewart]

With the rotor removed, the "foot" of the c-clamps were positioned behind the hub wheel flange where they could get a good foothold. I used one 6" and one 8" C clamp(s).
Tell ya what Dave, since you're not at your own shop, I'd get the proper puller to save time and a finger or two.