thanks.! i've seen this guy around utube a lot, he's thorough about describing what to fix. funny thing is that i don't have sound on my computer so it's all lip reading and watching.

i still can't get the cv joint out of the knuckle, and i really don't want to detach the whole axle. i'm gonna try again on my day off. i'm planning on unbolting the upper control arms and the tie rod end, and then see if the whole knuckle will tip outward enough for the axle to clear. i hope i don't wreck the inner joint during the process.

 

it doesn't seem easy to crimp those bands without the special tool. i've never crimped one before and i don't have that tool. I'm ready to get some spare bands and practice with vicegrips and dull wire cutters.. maybe it'll work. if not, i'll have to borrow a crimper somewhere.

 

I've used a pair of side cutters for years. Never an issue.

 

it needs a 12 point allen socket to get the axle off.?! 10mm.. wtfgrr.

 

Autozone has a set of three for a reasonable price.

 

The axle at napa doesn't come with any bolts like the axle bolt or the 12pt ones for the inner CV. Are these TTY bolts or can they be reused?

 

It may or may not be advised, but I reuse the bolts if I don't have new ones. On the inner joint bolts I always use blue thread locker.

 

I'm reusing the bolts. there's little curved washers, i'm keeping them in order. now the axle won't remove from the engine. it's stuck on there.

 

for all of you reading and responding to this thread, Thanks, the feedback had been very helpful..

my update,
i can't get the outer cv joint clear of the hub, so i decided to remove the axle. It's stuck, had to remove the shock.
i finally removed the whole axle, after having to smack the inner joint with a rubber hammer.. and discovered that there's no gasket, where is the gasket seal.? i bought a new, and now there's nothing there to replace. this normal? so yeah, there's no axle gasket.

now i'm trying to pry the crimp clamps off the old boot. check my album for some pics.

got the boot off, now the cv joint won't come off.!! keep it parallel to the axle and bang it off, with brass punch. how hard to have to hit without wrecking the metal.

 

ok, finally did it. replaced my boot.

i had to removed the shock assembly in order to get the axle out completely. at first i had the outer joint out of the hub, then unbolted to inner joint, then the axle got stuck, majorly stuck. so then i had to removed the shock and then it really-really got stuck, everything was jammed in there. ugh. i don't know how i managed to get it out, but after twisting and pushing the shock and the axle and cutting my hands twice, everything was free. in the end i could not replace the outer cv boot with the axle with in the car, it had to come out. there was no gasket to replace.

then on the bench, i clamped the axle and tried to hit the cv joint off with no luck. it took a while mostly because i was unfamiliar with what to do. i read up on how to clamp the axle verticle, and where to hit. i finally took a ball hammer and wacked it hard. there was a little dent there but nothing major. the boot went on easy, and the rings. the grease was fun. putting it back together was easy, it seemed too easy considering how difficult it was to get everything off. i used a pair of old horse shoe clippers together with a c-clamp to crimp the boot clamps. easy. i have some pics.

after fixing the egr channel, replacing the crankcase hose, new thermo coolant switch, coolant flushing from green to pink, new brake discs and pads, four upper control arms, one rear shock, an outer cv boot, and a couple of brake lights, i finally passed inspection. woowoo.

screw driver in brakes to hold axle from spinning while unbolting.
<img width="500" height="350" src="https://forums.audiworld.com/picture.php?albumid=163492&pictureid=232337">

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12point 10mm allen socket, i think 10mm. i forget,
<img width="500" height="350" src="https://forums.audiworld.com/picture.php?albumid=163492&pictureid=232338">

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yup, had to take out the shock. i recommend taking the shock out first, then remove the axle. actually, i think you're supposed to remove the lower rear control arm, maybe my procedure was wrong.
<img width="500" height="350" src="https://forums.audiworld.com/picture.php?albumid=163492&pictureid=232341">

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fun cutting off old boot, not best position to remove cv joint.
<img width="500" height="350" src="https://forums.audiworld.com/picture.php?albumid=163492&pictureid=232342">

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work spot
<img width="500" height="350" src="https://forums.audiworld.com/picture.php?albumid=163492&pictureid=232475">

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<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/huKlcrwq2l0?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/huKlcrwq2l0?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></object>

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horse clippers, being pressed with c-clamp to crimp.
<img width="500" height="350" src="https://forums.audiworld.com/picture.php?albumid=163492&pictureid=232476">

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yay, new boot.
<img width="500" height="350" src="https://forums.audiworld.com/picture.php?albumid=163492&pictureid=232477">