Axle Shaft: Removal
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire and 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Raise and support the vehicle. Remove the tire and wheel assembly.
- Insert a drift into the rotor and against the caliper to prevent the rotor from turning. Remove the axle shaft nut and the washer. See Fig 1 .
- Disconnect the outer tie rod end from the steering knuckle; DO NOT loosen the tie rod end jam nut. See OUTER TIE ROD under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION in the POWER RACK & PINION article in STEERING.
- Remove the lower ball joint from the steering knuckle. See LOWER BALL JOINT
under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION in the FRONT SUSPENSION article.NOTE: Ensure that the wheel speed sensor wiring harness is repositioned away from the ball joint after disconnecting the electrical connector from the sensor.
- Disconnect the electrical connector from the wheel speed sensor and reposition the wiring harness away from the ball joint. Remove the stabilizer link from the lower control arm. See STABILIZER SHAFT LINK under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION in the FRONT SUSPENSION article.
- Install the Front Hub Spindle Remover (J 28733-B) on to the wheel hub and secure with wheel nuts. See Fig 2
.NOTE: Ensure to support the axle shaft until it is fully removed from the vehicle.
- Using the front hub spindle remover, disengage the axle shaft splines from the hub and bearing assembly.NOTE: Ensure to bottom out the threads as much as possible while assembling the Axle Shaft Puller (J 33008-A), the Axle Shaft Remover Extension (J 29794) and the Slide Hammer (J 2619-01). See Fig 3 .
- Assemble the axle shaft puller, the axle shaft remover extension and the slide hammer. Using the axle shaft puller, axle shaft remover extension and the slide hammer, disengage the axle shaft from the transaxle. Remove the axle shaft from the vehicle.