Axle stuck

[Lex]

This may be in the wrong section - so please move as needed.

As you know, I have a 1994 Mazda Protege, auto, that I drive during the winter. About a year ago, I replaced the driver side CV axle with a rebuilt unit. The rebuilt unit turned out to be crap as it vibrated under acceleration and boot came off in less than 1 year. I proceeded to purchasing a new CV, but to make a long story short, I can't get the old one out.

Now, I don't consider myself new to cars. I have several engine swaps, turbo installs, engine builds etc under my belt. I have used everything on this axle from crow bars, to thick chisels, to sledge hammers. After 10hrs of messing with it I am done. The rebuilt POS probably has a snap ring our of spec or the vibrating axle warped the shaft/splines causing it to be stuck. It clicks back and forth but won't get past the snap ring The transmission case is this close from cracking due to the abuse from trying to get this thing out. Never seen anything like it.

Anyhow, I have decided to re-assemble the car and take it to a shop. I NEVER go to shops and I have no idea what is good or bad. I am afraid they won't be able to do anything either.

Any other suggestions?
Thanks in advance!

[BTR-GT94]

air chisel?

[Lex]

Haven't used any air tools on it yet. Hand chisel.

[redheddude222]

I had the same problem with my brother's DX. I ended up saying fck it and put it back in. I'm worried about how much of a pain it'll be when I do his BP swap.

[Lex]

So you never got it out? My only 2 options at this point are punching it out from the other side of the tranny by taking the half shaft out OR rebuilding the axle inside the tranny as it is.

[redheddude222]

So you never got it out? My only 2 options at this point are punching it out from the other side of the tranny by taking the half shaft out OR rebuilding the axle inside the tranny as it is.

Nope. I even tried a sledge and a HUGE chisel, and just ended up braking a piece of case off. It doesn't leak, but the axle is still stuck. I couldn't get anything through the trans to hit it from the inside either.

[BTR-GT94]

I've never had a problem with getting axles out, even $hitty reman ones. The worst one i just needed to hit with the air chisel with a buddy on the 36" pry bar.

[Lex]

Nope. I even tried a sledge and a HUGE chisel, and just ended up braking a piece of case off. It doesn't leak, but the axle is still stuck. I couldn't get anything through the trans to hit it from the inside either.

Is there no room at all from the other side due to the spider gear pin? I have some long punches I was going to try?

[redheddude222]

No, I couldn't get anything by that pin.

[Lex]

No, I couldn't get anything by that pin.

This is bad news. Fark! That means I might as well start thinking about rebuilding it inside the car.

[Ace]

earlier in the year when i got my drivers side axle replaced they said it was stuck and they couldnt get it out easily. im not sure what they finally did to get it out. but when i got the old one back the splines looked perfectly fine.

[93BlkOnGreenPro]

Had the same problem. We took a 4 foot solid piece of round steel that was about 2 inches in diameter, a 5 pd sledgehammer, and two hard hits. "Go get it" were about the best two words I had heard in two days.

Edit: Pass side axle, FTW.

I took a long pry bar, and a 4 pd sledge hammer, and hit hard on the piece that goes into the tranny about 5 times, while rotating it, and it popped out in about 10 mins.

[1st Gen]

Is there something akin to a pickle fork that work work? You may have to make one.

I've had problems getting my axle out too but the crowbar/hammer always got the job done, eventually. 10 hours is a long time to work at it though.

One time I saw my Dad lift a clothes line pole out of the ground concrete base and all by wrapping a tow chain around the pole then using a handyman jack against the chain to lift the pole out. It worked like a fricken charm. Maybe you can apply that to what your dealing with.

[therieldeal]

these almost never come out with constant pressure, you have to apply a quick jolt

[MD323]

If its the notorious driverside axle than the man issue is leverage/ swing room.

Get a 24 inch prybar from up top right by the throttle body and leverage against the transmition case ( there is a reinforcemtn that sort of shrouds the axle mating surface that's what you need to pry off of)

This technique has even snapped the c-clip when it was jammed on my MX and the c-clip came out in piece. the prybar is leveraged on a 1 inch from the axle so you have 23 times the tourque you produce pushing on it