CV shaft removal tools

[Princess Valiant]

So the question is: what is the most effective CV shaft removal tool?

So this is not really for old cars but I think most people on here are like me and are DIYers and own newer cars.

There is nothing worse than a stuck cv shaft to turn a quick easy job into an all day nightmare.

All over a tiny little spring clip the size of a finger ring !! The sad part is it usually doesn't take a whole lot strength to break them loose but if you don't have a solid footing on it, you're going nowhere in a hurry.

What tools have you used to get leverage on it and pop them out straight?

 

[RustyRatRod]

It depends on HOW they are retained. Some have "conventional" ring clips like you describe. On those types, I just take a long angle ended prybar and get between the inboard joint cup and transaxle and they normally pop right out. "Sometimes" you run into a stubborn one and you need to get a prybar on each side to persuade them. But you need to verify they are not held in by a roll pin or a bolt and locknut. Also, some of them have a flange in the transaxle that's not intended to be removed with the axle shaft. The axle shaft has a matching flange that bolts to the inner flange. You just remove the bolts and it comes off. So before you get the prybar out, make sure of how they are retained.

 

[RustyRatRod]

The sad part is it usually doesn't take a whole lot strength to break them loose but if you don't have a solid footing on it, you're going nowhere in a hurry.

It also helps to weigh more than 98 pounds soaking wet. lol

 

[jimjimjimmy]

Ball joint or pickle fork , works great .

 

[JDMopar]

Only ones I've ever fooled with are on a Honda drivetrain in a Saturn Vue. Pry bar popped them right out. BUT....I'm over a hundred pounds heavier than you and cuss much worse!

 

[Princess Valiant]

I can usually get them, but every time theres a gamble that one is going to be a tough one.

I know there are tools to take the gamble out of it but I thought many on here would have real experience with those tools and could say which is the most effective and reliable.

I have found the shorter side (driver side) have a higher chance of being the tough ones if you're going to have a tough one.

 

[Princess Valiant]

All of mine are the spring clip type, I've seen the bolt on ones (odessy van) but most of what I work are the spring clips

 

[MOPAROFFICIAL]

So the question is: what is the most effective CV shaft removal tool?

So this is not really for old cars but I think most people on here are like me and are DIYers and own newer cars.

There is nothing worse than a stuck cv shaft to turn a quick easy job into an all day nightmare.

All over a tiny little spring clip the size of a finger ring !! The sad part is it usually doesn't take a whole lot strength to break them loose but if you don't have a solid footing on it, you're going nowhere in a hurry.

What tools have you used to get leverage on it and pop them out straight?

Tie a rope around it and loop it to the bumper of another car and floor it lol

Get a second nut and weld a slide hammer fitting to it.

 

[volaredon]

I have gone out of my way NOT to own a wrong wheel drive car in the first place.... But unfortunately I have to deal with them at work.
Id rather dealing with u joints not CV. Especially since I don't see anyone selling separate parts like replacement boots for them anymore... U joints are cheaper to deal with than halfshafrs

 

[RustyRatRod]

I can usually get them, but every time theres a gamble that one is going to be a tough one.

I know there are tools to take the gamble out of it but I thought many on here would have real experience with those tools and could say which is the most effective and reliable.

I have found the shorter side (driver side) have a higher chance of being the tough ones if you're going to have a tough one.

I've never used special tools on any of them and I've changed out a LOT of front drive axles. Sorry I don't have a magic wand. You asked what we used and I told you.

 

[71GSSDemon]

It also helps to weigh more than 98 pounds soaking wet. lol

98lbs?? Must have had rocks in her pockets...lol

 

[Princess Valiant]

Ok, guess I'll have to try a few options and review them.

Not every car has clearance to simply get a prybar in there, maybe in a perfect world but my current project has a cross member that blocks simply getting a bar on the driver side. So I know there has to be other options for people who do a lot of them.

 

[JDMopar]

I know you've probably already done it, but do a search on You Tube for the type car you're working on. That car model + CV axle in the search may find some good info.

 

[oldkimmer]

I know you've probably already done it, but do a search on You Tube for the type car you're working on. That car model + CV axle in the search may find some good info.

Or at least tell us what your working on and wheather it’s on the floor or up on a hoist
/ramps or your in a pit up to your arm pits. Kim

 

[RustyRatRod]

Ok, guess I'll have to try a few options and review them.

Not every car has clearance to simply get a prybar in there, maybe in a perfect world but my current project has a cross member that blocks simply getting a bar on the driver side. So I know there has to be other options for people who do a lot of them.

I cannot disagree. Some are really tight, but somehow I always managed......now I do have to add this caveat. I've been out of the loop a long time now. "About" the latest car I've done CV axles on.......and I just removed and reinstalled it to facilitate replacing the alternator, was on Kitty's 2004 Escape. No doubt they've changed since then. I have in my arsenal something else that might work and I've had success with before. Normally, there's room right around the axle itself, because certainly it has to fit in there. I have a long pry bar with a 90 degree "paddle" on the end. I've had great success with it before popping out drive axles in tight places. I just go right down parallel to the axle and wedge the 90 behind it and pry on the axle. It works good. But again, you gotta have some ***. Too bad my fat redneck overall wearing *** ain't local. I'd come over there and pop it out for you. This is what it looks like. That might be your magic bullet, I don't know.

 

[bcschief]

They make attachments for slide hammers to pop them out, but I will say I have never had to use one. https://www.amazon.com/Bularie-Inner-CV-Axle-Removal/dp/B0DPX83D8D/?tag=fabo03-20

 

[volaredon]

I've got a couple of similar tools and usually I can't squeeze them in place to be able to use them on some that I've had to.

Years ago I bought a big OTC puller/slide hammer set that came with what you showed. I also have a couple a little different made by a company named steck.

Along with the OTC set I got a threaded end that threads into a "10" series vise grips and the slide hammer screws into that. Clamp the vise grips on the (bare) inner CV joint housing, screw the slide hammer into that and a couple of whacks at most and it's out. That's ok if you're replacing the half shaft anyway.... But not if you're only pulling it to get it out of the way to do a different job

 

[TT5.9mag]

Slide hammer. With a hook on it. Requires very little from the operator to put a very large amount of force on a small surface area

 

[RustyRatRod]

These newer cars are just getting stupider and stupider. You caint hardly even get in there to work on um, there's so little room. Kitty's car is a 2004, but to swap the alternator out, I had to Take the passenger side tire and wheel off, drop the engine cradle down on the passenger's side and remove the passenger's side axle shaft. I got it done in a reasonable amount of time but what the actual FFFFFFF? You caint even SEE the alternator from the engine bay. Makes NO sense.

 

[mbaird]

If it’s a snap ring style it requires a hard jerk to unseat .

 

[TT5.9mag]

If it’s a snap ring style it requires a hard jerk to unseat .

I don’t see how taking viagra and slapping my girlfriend helps taking the CV shaft out but I’ll give it try and report back.

 

[Princess Valiant]

Slide hammer. With a hook on it. Requires very little from the operator to put a very large amount of force on a small surface area

View attachment 1716471901

I did see something similar, but before I spent money on it, I just wanted some feedback as to if it actually works.

Some in here would probably be surprised to find out i am not a one car group kind of woman. I'm also into ford festivas and have few and for some reason the driver side cv shaft on almost every festiva I've taken apart has given me **** and you can't get a prybar in there because the cross member and the trans case isn't flat around the cv.

Thanks so much

 

[TT5.9mag]

I'm also into ford festivas

Well now that’s no one’s fault but your own.

 

[TT5.9mag]

I did see something similar, but before I spent money on it, I just wanted some feedback as to if it actually works.

Some in here would probably be surprised to find out i am not a one car group kind of woman. I'm also into ford festivas and have few and for some reason the driver side cv shaft on almost every festiva I've taken apart has given me **** and you can't get a prybar in there because the cross member and the trans case isn't flat around the cv.

Thanks so much

You may have to modify the final shape of whatever attachment you end up using but necessity is the mother of invention. I have a complete snap on puller set and there are more custom shaped do dabs and whatnots in there than what came with it because of how many times I’ve made a tool for a specific job.

 

[Princess Valiant]

Well now that’s no one’s fault but your own.

At least it's more my size