Removal (Highlander)

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2001 Toyota Sequoia, 2001 Toyota RAV4, 2001 Toyota MR2, and 2001 Toyota Highlander. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Raise and support vehicle. Remove front wheel. Remove engine undercover. Drain gear oil from transaxle into proper container. Remove ABS speed sensor (if equipped). Remove cotter pin and lock cap. See Fig 1. Apply brakes, and remove axle shaft nut from end of axle shaft. Release brakes. Remove bolt and disconnect front stabilizer link.
Remove cotter pin and bolt from tie-rod end. See Fig 1. Using Press (09628-62011), separate tie-rod end from steering knuckle. Remove bolt and 2 nuts from lower ball joint and separate front suspension arm from ball joint.
On 4WD RH, or 2WD LH front axle shaft, use Puller (09520-32040) to remove axle shaft from transaxle. See Fig 3.
For 2WD RH front axle shaft, remove 2 bolts. See Figure. Pull out axle shaft together with center bearing bracket.

Fig 1: Exploded View Of Front Axle Shaft Components (Highlander)

Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002

Fig 2: Exploded View Of Front Axle Shaft (Highlander)

Fig 3: Removing Front Axle Shafts (Highlander)