I was just wondering if anyone here replaced their axel? I heard that you could do it without unbolting everything like the ball joint. all that's really required is to undo the two bolts holding the control arm in and you have enough leverage to get the axle out.


This is for the front axles on an AWD.

 

What's wrong with yours? Miles on your car?

 

If you can wait until Saturday I will tell you.

Replacing the front driver's side axle Saturday morning. The inside boot is torn and I lost all the grease. I have new boot but also a new axle.. Either way I go, I still have to take it out first.

 

sounds good same thing happened to mine just wondering exactly what I ll have to take apart to get these things free I know you can take the wheel hub out and slide it out that way since I just replaced it and half my axle came out cause the boot is completely gone.

 

ChinkyChoy,

I just got my driver's side axle replaced. First of all, if you are attempting to do it yourself without any help, DON'T even start. Not sure if passanger side is different, but it took 4 hours with my father-in-law. Getting to the six 10 mm bolts holding the axle is a pain. Not much room to play with.

It looks like you can get by without touching the ball joint. I did undo the steering knuckle, and the bolt from the upper control arm. You also have the undo the bolt holding the lower part of the strut. The Y looking piece, not sure that the proper name is. Otherwise you are not going to be able to remove the other side of the axle. It's too big to fit.

If you have around 3-4 hours of time and someone to help, it shouldn't be too bad. Otherwise don't touch it your self.

Also, my first instinct was to replace the inside boot which had a hole, however, taking it appear without some kind of puller is not possible. It is too tight. Luckily I already had an extra axle. So, I just replace the whole thing.

 

I know this is old thread but I wanted to comment for anyone thinking to do it them self, the 6 x 10mm bolt are hell to remove, I just quit in the middle of it, there is no room to play, I made mistake and removed axle from the wheel hub so the ****er spins in place now.
I'm going to give it another try tomorrow, otherwise I will have car towed and shop do it.
The design is the most ****ing stupid I have ever seen.

 

Good to know. Typically axles that bolt on instead of just sliding into the transmission housing are easier, since you don't have to pry them out. Sounds like its not the case with this car.

 

I was able to extract 3 bots and stripped 3 other, I had my car towed yesterday, was using 3 extension bars from 1/2" breaker bar to, 5/8" to 1/4" just to reach inside. You could also remove 3 bolts at the trans case but I guess it would leak out trans fluid so I didnt touch that.

 

I remember when doing mine two years ago that the drivers side is much easier than the passenger side.

 

I believe you have this backwards. I just did my passenger side about a month ago...no bolts it just pops out...on the driver side there are bolts on the differential housing (see Si_driver's posts above)...not sure why they made it this way...

 

This is one of those replacements were I had no shame paying $300 to have it done.

 

I had to replace mine 2 years ago as it snapped while I was on the highway, took it to dealership since it was still under warranty, drove around for like 4 days while part was ordered, literally took them 12 minutes to install I was in and out.

 

Gotta love it when you have the tools (see. Lift). My dad lives 10-15 minutes away and is getting one installed this week...I am beyond excited.

 

I replaced just my passenger one and was a huge p.i.t.a...there was no room to pry it out nor anything to really get leverage against

 

what were some of the symptoms you guys expierienced???....My car clicks on turns....I can do a full circle in a parking lot, nothing, but as soon as I turn the wheel the opposite way it clicks...so driving straight no problems....turning the wheel a bit and you can hear and feel clicking