First time replacing a clutch in a FWD car (2005 Corolla) and it's not going to smoothly. I just buttoned everything up, ate dinner and then went back outside for a test drive. Big ol puddle under the car. Turns out the passenger side CX axle isn't in all the way. Obviously the control arms, ball joints etc are on there. Can I pop this thing back in without taking off the axle nut, a arms, etc? Or am I doomed to Uber to work tomorrow?
Your best bet will be to take the axle nut off and push the axle in till the inner joint bottoms out and seats the inner stub back into the diff.
There's not really any place to get a punch on the inner stub otherwise, unless you're okay messing up the inner boot. I doubt you could get it seated again by hand.
I did this once but had a slight noise as well. It probably didn’t get seated all the way, assuming you didn’t forget the axle seal. If you forgot the seal.....call Uber.
You should be able to pop it in without taking anything apart.
You can just pop it back in. There's usually a circlip that resists being seated all the way home. Sometimes you need to use a pry bar to push it in all the way.
As they said - you can get it back in without taking everything apart, but you will need to use a bit of force or leverage or both.
If there’s any easy way to get the hub somewhat loose you can use it as a sort of slide hammer. It works for me sometimes but if you’ve got nothing to lose give it a shot.
Yes. Try brute force first - pop the hubcap, loosen the axle nut, jack the car and put it on stands, then grab the axle and ram the thing home. If that doesn't instantly seat it, see if steering the wheel to one side or the other seats the axle, or allows you more slack to push it in.
Got it! Thanks guys. I couldn't get it to pop in with just leverage but after i disconnected the A arm it popped in pretty easily. Only loss was some tranny fluid.
Yay I get to go to work tomorrow! Wait a second...i'm not sure I should be happy about that.
The inner joint is a 'plunge joint' which means it has in and out travel. Considering that, when assembling you can just grab the axle shaft and ram it into the inner joint (which should be partially in the trans already, preferably splined if you can feel that) like you're using a slide hammer. For next time!
How do you like that stud on the back of the crossmember? I just did a Corolla XRS clutch a few weeks ago and didn't have to take that crossmember fully out, but it still bothers me that Toyota made it that way..
In reply to Vigo :
Not sure I know which stud you're talking about, but I also didn't touch the crossmember. Just the 3 transmission mounts, the rear one was a load of fun.
First time I've dropped a FWD transmission and it's the first time I've done serious wrenching since I used to drive the Mustang (10 years ago??). Wasn't so bad but it did take longer than expected. Took about 14 hours including everything but that also includes spending 2 hours trying to get the transmission in by myself. Once I had backup to man the jack (my wife) we were able to get it in.
Removing (or simply loosening and letting hang) the crossmember lets you sag the engine down and get the transmission lower for purposes of sliding on/off trans. I suppose you dont 'have' to do that, as you proved! Congrats on tackling a big job.
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