It was my turn to change an axle today, here is my story:
After driving with a ripped boot for about 6 months on the front passenger CV, the axle finally started to make some ugly noises.
I picked up a new axle from advance Auto, Tough One P/N NCV66002.
The New England weather has not been nice to the car, being a 2005 with 100k on the clock I couldn't get the ball joint pinch bolt to budge with my impact or get the lower control arm to separate from the stake on the ball joint.
The method that worked for me was to separate the end link from the control arm and remove the hub from the shock then get a pry bar and massage the axle out of the hub.
Note: The upper bolt of the shock to hub is an eccentric bolt, make sure to mark position on the bolt head to the shock.
Note 2: I have a 5EAT, no clue if transmission fluid was going to / supposed to leak out, I did not have a problem, car was jacked up on 1 side.
After I got it all back together and took it for a test drive, I noticed that the advance auto axle actually gave the car a horrible vibration. The vibration is only present when the car is in drive / reverse, and is at rest with the brake applied. What gives?
If I took out all the time taken with the other various failed methods of hub mobility, it wouldn't have taken that long!
Chris
