Front Axle Shafts: Removal

Lift-up the vehicle, and then remove the front wheels.
Drain the transmission oil.
Unlock the axle nut. See Fig 1.
CAUTION: Remove the axle nut with vehicle weight not applied on axle.
Remove the axle nut using a socket wrench with brake pedal depressed.
Remove the cotter pin and castle nut. See Fig 2. Remove the tie-rod end using a puller.
Remove the ABS sensor bracket. See Fig 3.
Remove the front stabilizer link from transverse link.
Remove the bolt securing ball joint, and then remove the transverse link from front housing. See Fig 4.
CAUTION: DO NOT hammer the axle shaft when removing. DO NOT damage the oil seal and tone wheel.
Remove the front axle shaft from front axle. See Fig 5. If it is hard to remove, remove the brake disc rotor using the axle shaft puller and plate.
NOTE: Drive shaft remover usage is different depending on type of transmission equipped. For AT vehicles, face the "AT" letter stamped on the drive shaft remover to transmission side. For MT vehicles, face the "MT" letter stamped on the drive shaft remover to transmission side. DO NOT contact the drive shaft remover to holder area.
Remove the front axle shaft from transmission using drive shaft remover. See Fig 6.

Fig 1: Removing Axle Nut

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Fig 2: Removing Tie-Rod Ball Joint From Knuckle Arm

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Fig 3: Removing ABS Sensor Bracket

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Fig 4: Removing Bolt Securing Ball Joint

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Fig 5: Removing Front Axle Shaft From Hub

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Fig 6: Removing Axle Shaft From Transmission

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