Axle Reinstall Issues / C-Clip Issues
 

I had to pop out the axles so I could drop the diff down (doing a bushing overhaul and new axle seals) and popping the axles out was pretty easy. Just used a screwdriver to pop it loose and it came right out. But now I'm trying to re-install the axles and I'm having a heck of a time. I tried going in with the clip opening facing up then flipping it around, tried going in with the clip facing down, tried rotating the axle about a dozen times, feels like I tried everything.

It gets to about where I have it showing the in the picture and then I try to quickly shove it into the differential as I have found online and it just will not budge from here.

Any ideas? It gets stuck here on both sides so I'm kind of stumped.

Thanks!
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...8da7a0b494.jpg

Remove the 14mm upper arm bolt and loosen the long bolt, I think it's a 21mm head and 19mm nut or vise versa, so the hub can swing freely. Secure the upper arm up a little ways out of the way, push the axle in all the way to get rid of the slop in both CVs, then hit it with a hammer. If that doesn't work hit it with a bigger hammer. I can't quite tell, but make sure it slides in all the way by hand first.

Thanks for the quick reply!!!

Before hitting it with a hammer, do you add in the upper 14mm bolt again? And the hammer, guessing a rubber hammer to the end of the axle in the hub right?

pack some grease in the c-clip groove to position the clip in the center. The clip will compress if it's centered, bind if it's off.

Oh that's a good idea with the grease to keep the clip in place. I'll try that too.

I do exactly this but I use the entire spindle as a reverse slide hammer, pivoting around the RLCAO bolt. Works every time.

Definitely true that I was being too gentle with this method. I didn't want to go nuts since the axle nut was still on the car and I didn't want to damage the wheel bearing.

I tried this way and holy crap that worked instantly. Thank you so much to everyone who responded.

Thanks everyone!!!

Yeah I think the prior owner had done some nasty stuff with one of the axles. The one axle had a lot of marks on the end that looks to me like he beat the balls off of it with a sledge hammer or something. I didn't want to persist that and damage the wheel bearing or axle.