Axle Shaft Outer Joint & Seal: Disassembly

1. Place the halfshaft in a vise. Place protective covers over the vise jaws. Use a hand grinder to cut through the swage rings. Do not damage the outer race. Compress the seal on the halfshaft and away from the CV joint outer race. Wipe all grease away from the face of the CV joint.
2. Find the halfshaft retaining snap ring, which is located in the inner race. Spread the snap ring ears apart using Snap Ring Pliers (or equivalent). Pull the CV joint from the halfshaft. See Fig 1. Discard the old seal.
3. Place a brass drift against the cage. Tap gently on the brass drift in order to tilt the cage. Remove the first ball when the cage tilts. Repeat the previous step to remove all of the balls. See Fig 1.
4. Pivot the cage and the inner race 90 degrees to the centerline of the outer race. At the same time, align the cage windows with the lands of the outer race. Lift out the cage and the inner race. See Fig 1.
5. Remove the inner race from the cage by rotating the inner race upward. Thoroughly degrease all of the CV joint parts. Check the outer CV joint assembly for unusual wear, cracks, or other damage. Replace any damaged parts. Clean the halfshaft bar. Use a wire brush to remove any rust in the seal mounting area (grooves). See Fig 1.

Fig 1: Disassembling Outer CV Joint (Rzeppa Type)

Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.