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Ok see what your talkin about, I'll head to the store and pick up some grease and take another stab at it. So I should put the grease on the circlip in the diff to try to hold it in place?
Exactly! I like to use that thick and sticky black moly grease.
Try to position the circlip in the diff, with an even amount of the clip showing all the way around. (centered in the diff)
This should give you the least interference and allow the circlip to expand and the spline to slide in.
Also, don't forget to file any sharp edges on the new spline.
Ok great thanks, so can I just use a long screwdriver to move the clip around? I'm assuming clip is pushed the left a bit and I'll be sure to clean up the spline on the new axle
The clip is in a grove and should move very easily.
I know there isn't much space to get a little grease in there, so use any thing that fits.
If it is possible use a finger so you can feel the position of the clip.
The clip is in a grove and should move very easily.
I know there isn't much space to get a little grease in there, so use any thing that fits.
If it is possible use a finger so you can feel the position of the clip.
OK I will definitely try that, waiting for my buddy so I can get the new axle out. I'm assuming it's stuck on the circlip and last time we used a improvised slide hammer tool and it popped right out.
From my experience I always installed the circlip onto the axle shaft first, then pop it into the differential.
Me too, but that was on other front wheel drive vehicles. (Altima & Maxima)
I looked up pics of a new axle, and none of them had a circlip on the axle. In the FSM, they don't show a circlip on the axle.
My guess it is a different design where the circlip stays in the diff.
Plus, with the limited spave, I'm not sure it could be removed.
Yeah that's what I assumed as well. Well I'll be trying again in a few and I'll definitely keep you guys posted because my car has been on jackstands for a little over a week sigh.
OK I will definitely try that, waiting for my buddy so I can get the new axle out. I'm assuming it's stuck on the circlip and last time we used a improvised slide hammer tool and it popped right out.
When the axle is out, check the spline inside the diff for any damage or burs.
If you see or feel any, do your best to file them down to make assembly easier.
Question.
Wouldn't it be easier to just spin the other wheel and have the circlip fall down a bit to center itself? Just brainstorming until my friend gets here
Question.
Wouldn't it be easier to just spin the other wheel and have the circlip fall down a bit to center itself? Just brainstorming until my friend gets here
I would think the circlip would still be too much out of centre, but there is no harm in trying that.
So my brother's mechanic came past and helped me and he wasn't that much of help. In his opinion he said as long as it locks in place it doesn't have to sit flush. I have enough sense to know that's not true.
So after he left I was still annoyed and forgot to ask him to remove the axle with his slide hammer and now I'm back at square one 🙄. This has been quite annoying even more so because it's something simple and I know it! I mean I swapped engines in my driveway on my own before and I'm stumped by something so stupid lol
I didn't but I've been doing some digging and apparently there is a slight gap that's supposed to be there from what I've read. I'm going to take a stab at it in the morning and take it for a spin. Probably down The block and back. I may have been overthinking this.
