Red Pepper Racing

So after much annoyance, I am here asking for help on the install. I was able to get everything out no problem, but when trying to install the new axle, I am getting stuck. I am using a brand new axle that I got from the auto parts store. I am able to get the thing in till the splines look like they are in, but can get it no further without a great amount of force. I was able to get it in most of the way, then the driver side axle popped out. There is still about a 1/4" between the axle and the transmission. My main questions are,. Should this have been so difficult? How much of a gap is there supposed to be between the axle and the trans? Anything else you guys can think of would be great.

 

Thanks

Little update. I tried to remove it to try putting grease on it and seeing if it would work with the factory clip. It will not come out for the love of God with my prybar, nor will it go any further with my BFH. Im about to drop the transmission. What is wrong?

I ran into a bit of an issue last time I did one of these on a 92 civic, same concept. Turns out that the locking ring on it was too big. Mine got stuck how you describe too and I just had to make sure that it was completely parallel to the ground and I just pried it out using the notch that is in the transmission side housing. Once it was out I took a different locking ring off a spare axle and just used that. Popped right in and has been good for over 30,000 miles so far. When your installing try to reduce the angle of it going in and I don't think that much grease if any would be needed. The splines are pretty closely sized as it is and grease may make it bind up. 

I had to take a mallet to my 89 to seat the axles. Yes I know you're not supposed to, but that was the only to seat them. My guess is that the ring they put on "new" axles have too much spring pressure, from installing it and it being new.

Honestly, I did take a mallet to mine. It woudlnt go in by hand after about halfway in. After using the mallet, it stops at about 1/4" till seating completely. I'm about to get a slide hammer and hope it works.

So, after about an hour and a half of figuring out new ways to use four letter words. I finally got the NEW axle back out. I looked everything over, and aside from a small hole in the boot, which I will now replace, and bad oil seals, nothing is majorly wrong. Now, I decided to check if the snap ring was causing it to not go in all the way. I took off the snap ring and inserted the axle and it still only went in as far as I had gotten stuck before. Was that as far as it was supposed to go? 

 

Here is a picture of the axle WITHOUT the clip showing the distance between the axle and transmission.

http://s1210.photobu...hoto23.jpg.html

 

That was as far as I had it before, but I thought it was too much of a gap. Am I wrong? Im going to be pissed if I spent all that time on something that was fine.

Edited by loaqswki, 04 August 2013 - 04:52 PM.

As long as the axle goes in far enough to allow the little locking ring to fall into its place you should be fine. And its ok to give it a little smack to get all the way into place. Sometimes ill get it into the trans as far as I can by hand, and then proceed to install the other side. once the other side is in place, ill use the weight of the hub assembly and give it a few good smaks towards the trans. that way there are no hammers =).

Welp, I removed the mangled oil seal and once again put in the axle and see that it was indeed completely in. Great.

Just for informative purposes as the beck&arnley 052-3517 is no longer available. National seal 710336 is a direct replacement as well.

So it slid in this third time for you??

 

Do you just have to hammer it in?

The "C" clip will hang down upon install/removal and make things difficult.  Being off center, it will be out enough to really hang up.  The gears the axle are going into are also "loose" in there so you are lining those up too.  Some vigourous shaking while pushing in on it may line it up or even applying a little pressure and turning it 180* with a little wabbling may line it up too.  Packing the "C" clip groove on the axle with some grease and centering it up before install will also help.  I've never had grease interfere with an install and ALWAYS coat the splines and seal before install.  It just gives everything a chance to succeed/survive. 

 

Removal is similar, in that I will put a prybar between the CV and the tranny case (careful not to damage the seal) and give it a series of vigourous "pops' as I slowly rotate the axle.  It will give the clip a chance to center up and better odds of a painless removal.  I've heard the horror stories on here about stubborn axles and I guess I've just been really lucky.