Originally Posted by stevekat

After reading most of this thread, I am opting to replace my axles. They are here. Two Cardone Select for total of about $117 delivered. I ordered a 40" 3/4" breaker bar from Amazon, a 36mm 12 point socket for $13, got an impact wrench for $40 on sale at Harbor Freight with a 20% coupon, and a 1 1/8 3 in 1 hammer drill for $80 from Harbor Freight with a 20% coupon. So for less than $200 in tools, I hope to get this job done without too much difficulty, though certainly there can be obstacles.

I'll try the impact wrench on the axle nut, and if it is not up to the task, the massive 40" breaker bar. I shall use the 3 in 1 hammer drill in hammer only mode to push the axle out of the hub. I hope to avoid all the incredible mess and annoyance of dealing with the grease of disassembly and reassembly of the CV joints, and the time consuming (and sometimes futile efforts) of either popping the outer CV off the axle shaft or having to take apart the inner joint then deal with two incredibly messy CV's just to do the outer boot.

I plan on releasing only the lower control arm from its body mount to effectuate swinging the hub assembly for axle removal. We shall see.

If the rather inexpensive axles wear prematurely, I'll decide on a replacement at that time. Reports of longevity are relatively good. I would also think the risk of having to replace them early is no greater than having the existing CV fail after getting a replacement boot, if it was open for any length of time. In either case, sliding an axle in and out seems like a simpler and quicker process both the first and a second time, than the CV boot replacement.

Also, at the end of the job, I'll have a new giant breaker bar, impact wrench and rotary hammer drill for future use, justified by the savings of doing the job oneself, provided one avoids injury!

The most likely obstacles seem the ease or difficulty of popping the axles out of the transmission, and popping them back in - sometimes it seems this goes smoothly and other times a challenge. However it seems this is often easier to overcome than getting the axle out of the outer CV joint if one does not remove the axle from the hub for a outer boot replacement.

BTW, looking at the new axles, for whatever it is worth, they look well made.

I am going to pop on new rotors and pads while I have everything apart.

I shall try to report back on my experience.