Trick to changing the front cv axles

[Crowz]

Something that I have had to do on two of my older X5's recently is change cv axles and I personally always have a heck of a time getting them out of the differential.


I figured out a trick that works all the time now that might help others out.


What you need is a chain vicegrip oil filter remover. Looks like a pair of vice grip pliers with a chain attached. You can get them on amazon or most local parts stores. The things are handy for all kinds of stuff.

They look like this :





Then you need a piece of braided steel cable. I salvaged mine from an old dog run setup where you let a dog run in the backyard on it.


Last but not least a sledge hammer.


Now when you get to the point where your needing the get the cv axle out of the differential you take the cable and loop it over the chain on the vice grips. Now loop the chain around the cv axle where it goes into the differential. Lock the vice grips down.



On the other end of the cable make a loop and slide it down the handle of the sledge hammer so its looped right at the end. I like to set the cable up so there is about 7 feet of line between the sledge hammer head and the end thats attached to the cv axle.


Now pretend your playing golf and do a nice line drive swing. That axle will fly out of the differential every time.


Beats any tool method I have ever seen. Doesnt even damage the cv axle which I normally dont have much luck being able to reuse with my other methods.


Just remember think golf not baseball or lumber jacking. When you make your golf swing the cable should reach fully tightened at the same point on the swing where the golf club would contact the golf ball. Anymore than this and your going to launch that axle at your neighbors house.

[X5chemist]

Mine are due for replacement. 152k miles on them now. Front right has a boot failing. I'm replacing all four. The front's will go along with suspension parts, oil pan gasket if necessary, and lower bay cleaning.

I've not seen info about front diff axle seal replacements. One side has an o-ring. The other a regular seal. Are they hard to replace? The front shaft spacer will go on too.

[Crowz]

Never had to replace the seals so no idea sorry.

[andrewwynn]

I used this:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/inn...14/reviews/new




Same idea as the chain pipe wrench to grab the axle.

I've either used a slide hammer when not caring if I'm going to replace or I'll use the tie rod grip and a prybar to pull the axle out off the differential.

Take your time putting in the new ones, I've learned to test fit without the c clip as they love to jam. It usually takes a couple tries it's good to have a spare.

The cable plus wire rope plan is the same physics as a slide hammer but easier method to grab the middle of an axle so good job!

[nick325xit 5spd]

Heh. OK, I'm glad it wasn't just me struggling to get the axle out. I succeeded, but not without wondering if I'd lost all my strength. :lol:

[andrewwynn]

That c clip is chaos. The effort going in or out can vary by at least 1000%.

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

That c clip is chaos. The effort going in or out can vary by at least 1000%.

R and Ring right front axle has been the most difficult part of my engine swap. Getting it back in was much more difficult than popping it out. At one point I separated the inner joint, which thankfully popped back in with some twisting.

Even getting the axle back on the hub took a long time with a big hammer and a piece of 4x4. Eventually I got it to where the nut grabbed 3 or 4 threads and I could safely pull it back on with a big ratchet. Just bought a kobalt corded impact that gives 340 lb ft max to finish the torque with.

Reinstalled the axles was an all around nightmare that took hours.

[Crowz]

Putting it back is the only thing that wasnt a nightmare. I make sure the splines are aligned then pull back on the axle a bit and shove it back in hard in a kind of hammering action. So far that hasnt ever been that bad but I do put grease on the splines too.


I had two different x5's that the the same cv axle side failed on within 2 days. So I ended up developing this trick because I wasnt going thru the same crap as last time


Ive got the job down to 30 minutes now. Power tools help too.

[cn90]

Probably same issue with Volvo S60, V70 (2001-2010 etc.).
The Volvo axle has a C-Clip, if one rotates the axle and tug it, eventually the "open" end of C-clip faces 6:00 o'clock position, now the round part of C-Clip is inside the groove of the axle ---> easy removal.

I learned this trick from a Volvo tech.

[andrewwynn]

Definitely worth a try. Let gravity help. I didn't notice any help from gravity when installing; the clip was tight enough it didn't move