Removing a half shaft axle from a 2002 Corvette Z06

[@mycorvettelife]

Good lord! It was being a real PITA!

[@mikesheen52]

REALLY !!! noyhing like hammering the axle against the gear in the differential WOW !!

[@corvetteflorida]

Your powers of observation leave a lot to be desired. At 3:07 the video shows plainly that the half shaft was out of the differential housing.

[@mikesheen52]

right at 5.53 the axle is free and has been ... he has been hammering a axle that is butted up to the differential gears it cant go in !!! pull the hub asembly out more then you can move the cv axle in wow this video is a trip

[@corvetteflorida]

Wow these comments are a trip. If you note that the axle is "free and clear", which at 3:07 it plainly shows the axle is clear of the differential housing, then what the heck are you talking about when you say "butted up to the differential gears"? Are you under the impression that the differential gears are on the outside of the differential housing? Seriously? This isn't an "installation" video, it is an "extraction" video. What exactly do you believe it is that I am trying to make "go in"?

[@livingchilling2217]

Nope nope young man!... you should've remove lower ball joint nut also and also should've left the axel nut so you could bit the shit out of it, thats why I never take my baby to a mechanic and rather do it my self, you could've cause a mayor damage to the differential.

[@corvetteflorida]

And exactly how could that differential damage take place when the end of the shaft had been pulled out of the differential? Magic, perhaps? :/

[@Mike44460]

And this is exactly why I won't let anyone work on my Vette. The half shaft could of been removed from the hub with out using a hammer. It did the hub a lot of good to pound on it. All it takes is the proper application of force.

[@corvetteflorida]

The hub was being replaced anyway. Actually I replaced ALL the hubs. Sheesh, I get some people calling me a "weenie" because I didn't hit it harder, and then on the other hand we have this sort of criticism, saying I was hitting it too hard. Just goes to show you.... Everyone is an armchair expert, it seems.

[@Mike44460]

I'll give you credit for not hammering on the ball joints, but under no circumstances would I use a hammer on any component that you were working on. How were the threads on the half shaft? In addition my education and journeyman's certificates put me a notch or two above armchair expert.

[@corvetteflorida]

Apparently "education" and "certificates" do not help you with your comprehension and observational skills. Sorry you didn't notice that I was REPLACING that half shaft. Which made the condition of the threads on that shaft irrelevant to it's future use. And perhaps you would have noticed that my banging with the hammer really wasn't all that forceful, designed to loosen more than shatter any rusted adhesion between the parts. I only used as much force as seemed necessary to gradually loosen the rust welded parts apart. I am actually quite careful with my car. And yes, that area was sprayed liberally with Break-Free and allowed to set for at least 24 hours. Actually there were multiple sessions of that during the process. But I doubted anyone wanted a COMPLETE multi hour video of the entire process. For your consideration, perhaps your techniques are just "different", and not "best", as you have apparently come to think of your "expertise". Just a thought, so take it or leave it as your ego sees fit.

[@cnknguyen]

You do NOT need to pound on the axle like that, it needs leverage to be pulled. I did this on my garage floor with a prybar and some blocks of 2x4.

[@corvetteflorida]

Not sure what you mean. The axle comes right out and the new one went in with just a light tap on the end. There is some sort of spring clip in the differential, if I remember correctly, that the axle shaft has to go into when you put it back in. Other than that, I really didn't look inside the differential.

[@corvetteflorida]

Yes, that is right. At 3:00 you can see where I used a jack to lift up on the spindle to get it to clear the upper control arm. Beyond that, you really don't have to do anything about the spring.

[@philhartman13]

I wish this could be done in 8mins.... Great video sir!

[@joealley5763]

What did you don with the rear spring.if anything. Seems like it would keep the control arm from coming loose at the upper ball joint?

[@CubanRider]

Did you have to drain the differential oil prior to removing the half shaft?

[@2011CamaroLT]

I woke up to a nice puddle of clear(ish) grease under the passenger side rear end of my 01 C5Z. I narrowed it down to the upper rear axle (I assume the boot has a nice tear in it now). Should i attempt to replace the boot or just replace the entire assembly while i have it apart?

[@corvetteflorida]

From what I can recall, the grease inside those rubber boots is not clear. I took an earlier video showing that grease -> kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHy7qniFpMamosU. If your boot has a tear in it, you would have grease slung all over the underside of the car as the shaft rotates while you are driving.

[@2011CamaroLT]

Thanks, from the smell i would have to guess it is diff fluid. However, when i checked the diff out there was no signs of leaking. I had thought maybe it was from the vent on top but i have not changed the diff fluid recently so i can't imagine it would be overfilled. I will do some more investigating.

[@corvetteflorida]

This would be my guess -> kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJKmiaafidRsqpI

[@joeelutz]

When you pull the axle out of the rear end, is the splined shaft loose? What I mean is does the axle stub support that splined shaft and keep it centered?

[@corvetteflorida]

I didn't. As long as you don't change the angle or alignment of anything you remove and put back in place, I don't see why that would be necessary. Car drives OK afterwards, so it doesn't appear that an alignment was necessary.

[@jjones2509]

Good video. Keep up the good work

[@VitaminD15]

Is that twin turbo set up I see? How much power are you making? What engine work have you had done?

[@corvetteflorida]

Yes. STS twin turbos. As for everything else, more than I could list here. But this thread might be a good place to start. -> corvetteflorida.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44697. Make sure you have a BIG bowl of popcorn handy.

[@VitaminD15]

Which cv axles did you replace the original equipment with? My boot has been ripped open by the brake line. Thanks for the quick response.

[@corvetteflorida]

I just used stock C5 shafts. From what I could find out, those were considered to be pretty strong via the opinions I read. Yeah, that's the reason I was replacing the passenger side shaft. South Georgia Corvettes left the brake line laying right on the boot and ripped it wide open. Had grease everywhere...

[@VitaminD15]

That's what my drivers side looks like, a greasy mess. It's tough trusting shops after something like that. I just try to do everything I can myself. Great videos

[@camaro3gen]

Do you have to get a aliment after you do this?

[@SoFLaZ06]

thats a funny looking muffler

[@link9alink9a71]

The axle out from differential when he starts to Hummer

[@steves8014]

Absolutely no reason to beat on that half shaft and send all that force in to shock the diff over and over. It can't pound out anyway in that position. It slides right out when done in the proper order! If the spline is rusty, pull it out of the diff an inch or two so you don't beat up the diff.

[@corvetteflorida]

You should watch the video. Pay particular attention at 3:07. Notice the half shaft popping out of the differential? Well, no, I guess you didn't. :/

[@2011CamaroLT]

I am going back and forth about doing this job myself BUT this step is what worries me the most. I have seen a few videos now and every one of them beat on the half shaft to break it loose. It says proper force should get the job done but with an 18 year old car i can't imagine it being that easy. I am concerned my mechanic will beat on it like every one else.

[@corvetteflorida]

Nope.

[@hddm3]

never seieze