CV joint replacement

You will need a large socket to fit the nut on the end of the CV axle shaft. You will also need a breaker bar to remove this nut. You will need a torque wrench capable of achieving the correct torque when replacing the nut on the replacement shaft. You will need a relatively heavy (3-pound) hammer and a pry bar to remove the axle shaft from the transmission housing. You should break the axle nut loose prior to raising the vehicle off the ground as it is very tight and may not come loose easily once raised. If you use an impact wrench then the need to do this before raising the vehicle is not as great. You need to raise the vehicle on jack stand(s). Remove the wheel from the side you are replacing. Remove the brake caliper and rotor assembly as well. Remove the axle nut. The axle must be pulled free of the hub spline by pushing it out backwards. This is not usually possible without either (1) separating the lower ball joint from the lower control arm, or (2) unbolting the lower control arm assembly from the subframe and pulling it outward and to the side.
Be careful when pushing and pulling on the axle shaft. The outer CV joint is fixed, but the inner joint can be pulled out too far and become separated. This will make removal much more difficult. Once you have freed the outer CV joint from the hub, then you need to use the prybar and hammer to tap the inner joint out of the transaxle. It snaps in place and will take a few attempts to achieve. Be careful if trying to pry on the transaxle housing as it is cast metal and can break easily. Once you have the inner joint free you can remove the shaft. There may be some transmission fluid leak from the seal when you remove the shaft. Insert the new shaft into the transaxle. Push it in to snap it into place. You can pull back about an inch or two to help get the force necessary to pop it in, but again be careful not to overextend the inner joint. Once the inner joint is in place, slide the outer joint back through the hub splines. Reconnect the ball joint/lower control arm. Replace the axle nut (use the one supplied with the new shaft. Torque to proper specifications. Replace the rotor/caliper/wheel.

I would replace the complete axle assembly,
it would be cheaper and come with a warranty.

Instructions

1. Remove the CV Joint
   • Remove the boot straps from the CV joint using a standard screwdriver or a pair of diagonal cutting pliers.
   • Slide the boot back over the interconnecting shaft.

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     Detach the stop ring at the base of the CV joint assembly using a pair of snap ring pliers.
     

   • Pull the CV joint assembly from the interconnecting shaft to force the snap ring at the top of the shaft through the CV joint assembly.
   • Tilt the inner cage (the cage holding the balls in place inside the housing) in different angles to remove the six balls. Use your thumb or a hammer and a wooden dowel, if necessary.
   • Tilt the inner cage enough to remove it from its housing.
   • Rotate the race inside the cage--the part that holds the balls against the inner cage--and remove the race from the cage.
     Replace the CV Joint
     • Apply a thick coat of grease to the new CV joint race using special high temperature/high pressure grease (see Tips below).
     • Install the race inside the new cage. Then install the cage/race assembly inside the CV joint housing.
     • Tilt the cage at different angles and fit the new balls in place.
     • Slide a new CV joint rubber boot over the interconnecting shaft.
     • Install a new snap and stop ring on the interconnecting shaft.
     • Push the interconnecting shaft through the CV joint assembly to force the snap ring through the assembly.
     • Apply a thick coat of CV joint grease to all moving parts of the assembly.
     • Apply a coat of CV joint grease to the inside of the rubber boot. Then slide the boot over the CV joint assembly.
     • Install the boot straps at each end of the boot, and tighten the straps using a clamp tool or screwdriver, depending on the type of clamp.
     
     
     

most shops charge 149.95 including the part but if you want to do this yourself here goes. remove the wheel on the side your replacing. remove the center big nut. (need impact or reall big breaker bar) unbolt the lower ball joint get a big prybar and insert it to where you can push down on the lower control arm. unbolt the tie rod end and smack it a few times to make it dislodge. smack the side of the ball joint with your big hammer a couple times then push down on the lower control arm till the ball joint separates from its stud. then tap on the end of the cv axle and pull out on the wheel assembly till the axle releases from the wheel assembly. using a smaller prybar get on the ground and get behind the big part of the axle near the transmission as you pull you need to pry between the transmission and the axle to get it to pop loose. put a drain pan under the transmission to catch the little bit of fluid that will come out. reinstall in reverse order. good luck

replace the entire CV axles. Support vehicle with jackstands by frame. Remove front wheels. Remove axle nuts. Remove lower balljoint nut. Separate balljoint from nuckle by banging hard with ball peen hammer on knuckle on spindle assy. Remove outer tie-rod nut. Separate tie-rod from steering nuckle by bangin on nuckle with ball-peen hammer. Use long pry bar to hold lower control arm down while simultaneously pulling hub/spindle assembly away from vehicle and pushing axle through hub toward transaxle. Go under vehicle and pry inner cv joint away from transaxle while holding axle assembly.
Install new CV axle in reverse of the disassembly.

Buy the right CV axle. Raise right front of vehicle. Remove wheel. use a lugnut and washers to secure brake rotor so that it is not flopping and trapping rust behind. Remove axle nut. Loosen nuts from outer tie rod end stud and lower ball joint stud almost all the way off, but do not remove them completely. Seperate the studs from knuckles by striking each knuckle with a ball peen hammer. After the tie rod and lower ball joint are seperated from the spindle knuckles, pry down on lower control arm and push end of axle through hub toward transaxle until hub and spindle assembly is free from axle/CV joint. Place drain pan under transmission. Carefully place pry bar between innner CV joint and transmission and pop axle assembly loose. Install new axle in reverse of the dissassembly.

Not much to it,
remove wheel,remove axle nut,remove bolt and nut that pinch lower ball joint in place,it will either be an 18mm or a 21mm,pry lower control down to detach and separate ball joint,tap CV shaft in where you took the nut off,
hold out on rotor assembly while pushing CV shaft in ward,When you have the CV out of the bearing and rotor assembly,Tap inside CV joint out of transmission.

You can pick up an entire re manufactured axle assembly at your local auto parts store. In order to replace the assembly you will need to disconnect the tie rod end and the ball joint. Remove the spindle nut. Push the axle stub out of the hub. Now with a suitable container under the axle to catch spilled fluid pry the axle from the transmission housing. Install is the reverse of removal. For more detailed instructions and diagrams go to www.autozone.com vehicle repair guides.

Lift the passenger side of vehicle. Remove tire/wheel assembly. Remove the axle nut. Remove the tie rod end nut. Smack the side of the housing the tie rod end goes into to pop the tie rod end loose and out. Remove the sway bar link. Remove the lower ball joint nut. Smack the housing the lower ball joint goes into to pop the ball joint loose. Pry the lower control arm down to pop the ball joint out. swivel the rotor and strut assembly to the side. Pop the axle out. Reassemble in the reverse order.

You may have to have half inch air impact gun to remove the spindle nut (in the center of the rotor). I'd make that the first task to undertake because your next task will be to remove lower ball joint. After you get that spindle nut loose, take a hammer, 32 oz. preferrably and whack area directly behind lower ball joint to coerce it in to loosening up. Then take a decent pry bar and lift up on the whole spindle assembly and if it don't release, go whack the front side in front of lower ball joint. After you get it to come free from lower A arm, take a pry bar and insert it in between the CV joint and transmission housing. Do not put a lot of pressure that will over stress the transmission case, just vigorously enough to get the CV joint to pop out of the circlips that holds it into transmission. Make sure when you put new one in that CV joint reseats all the way and reverse procedure is the same.

Rasie vehicle, remove tire, axle nut and caliper. remove tie rod end from spindle, remove lower ball joint nut and seperate from spindle and pull spindle from axle, with pry bar pop axle out of trans housing. it is easyer to replace cvc axle than to replace or repair cvc joint.