Whats involved in replacing a right front axle (half shaft)

THIS FORUM IS FOR ANY QUESTIONS ON THE 7.25" IFS FRONT DIFF, CV HALF SHAFTS AND FRONT DRIVE SHAFT.
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HeresPaco
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
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Joined: Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:49 am
Location: Freeville, NY
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Whats involved in replacing a right front axle (half shaft)

Post by HeresPaco »

Welcome to summer ya'll. HolySmokers it's hot here in Central NY! :cheers:
Ehhh... and time to do all the needed automovile junk.

What's the procedure in replacing a right front axle in a 2001 Safari?
Also, I need to put in a aux trans cooler- on the radiator trans cooler upper and lower lines, which is the supply & return?
Oh, and.. what's the best way to flush all the power steering? (I ain't got no baby siringes or turkey basters or none o dem things.. :vom: I wanna flush it allll.)
Finger Lakes, NY
'01 Safari SLT Awd
'99 GMC Suburban LT
just call me "R/T"

LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: Whats involved in replacing a right front axle (half shaft)

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

The procedure for doing front CV half shafts on the 96+ vans is a little more involved than the 90 to 96.

1. Jack up van and support on jack stands.
2. Remove front wheel/tire.
3. Remove the axle shaft nut (36 mm).
4. Pop off the upper ball joint. (has to be done)
5. Remove the splined end of the cv shaft from the hub bearing. (use a dead blow hammer or leave the nut on so you don't damage the threads)
6. With a hammer and drift, knock the cv shaft out of the diff. It should "pop" out as it is held in with a circlip around the axle shaft inside the housing or axle tube. You can hit the big metal knuckle that is right near the diff.
7. If the axle shaft comes out with the cv shaft, put it back in now and inspect the circlips on both ends first.

Installation is the reverse procedure.

Oh yeah it IS HOT here! :muhaha:
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: Whats involved in replacing a right front axle (half shaft)

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

HeresPaco wrote:Also, I need to put in a aux trans cooler- on the radiator trans cooler upper and lower lines, which is the supply & return?
Here you go....Linky
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
User avatar

Topic author
HeresPaco
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:49 am
Location: Freeville, NY
Contact:

Re: Whats involved in replacing a right front axle (half shaft)

Post by HeresPaco »

Hi, Thanks for the info! All went well. I also did the shocks and other front axle and the hub too. Was a little easier to get the axle out with the shock and hub off first. The tranny cooler was a snap once I finally learned to shrink my hands small enough to get them in between stuff... Ha, Not!! I swear they quit making these vans simply because it's a pita to work on them somtimes!
Finger Lakes, NY
'01 Safari SLT Awd
'99 GMC Suburban LT
just call me "R/T"
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