Hi,

I'm new here - been lurking for quite some time and now finally I have an opportunity to ask a question....

I own a 2001 Vitara (4d doors 1600cc) and in my last desert trip I busted the inner seal of the right (passenger side) axle shaft (the one inside the diff housing).

anyway, I got a new one and started the take the right side apart... out goes the wheel the tie rod (no stabilizer) I even had to take the whole A arm out in order to separate the axle shaft from the hub...

now comes the part that haynes describe as:
"Pry the driveaxle out of the differential"

well I tried... one screw driver, two screw drivers, hammer pry bar ...  the seal on the inner CV is all but gone but  the axle shaft is still attached to the diff.

I know that there is a snap ring inside there but I'm quite sure that me (and haynes) are missing something.
maybe a secret password the separate the two ?

thanks for any help you can offer.
(moral support is welcome I've been working for more than 7 hours on that axle shaft...)
Rafi.

Welcome!  

I believe a large prybar and some careful prying will get the axle out.

Cwkick

a large prybar and hit it with a hammer.

Tap on the inner shaft (Opposite of the pry bar) while you pry.  May take 4 hands.   The Snap ring is doing it's job a little too well.  A vibration or sudden shift type movement should set it free.

Thanks.

I'll get a friend or two and a larger hammer   .
(It will have to wait till tomorrow - it's 1.30 am around here).

I should have bought an older model.. let the snap ring "age" a little inside the diff  

they still can be a pain in the rear to remove when they are older .. trust me.

.....snip.....anyway, I got a new one and started the take the right side apart... out goes the wheel the tie rod (no stabilizer) I even had to take the whole A arm out in order to separate the axle shaft from the hub...
.....snip......
Rafi.

I question the removal of the A-arm and the tie rod. AFAIK, you remove the hub cover, remove a snap ring which holds the axle into the hub (sealing the bearings in the spindle as well), pop the axle out of the diff with a pry bar, finaggle the axle out through the suspension and out of the backside of the spindle.

I question the removal of the A-arm and the tie rod. AFAIK, you remove the hub cover, remove a snap ring which holds the axle into the hub (sealing the bearings in the spindle as well), pop the axle out of the diff with a pry bar, finaggle the axle out through the suspension and out of the backside of the spindle.

That'll work for the drivers side, but not the pass. side. Not enough room to get the inner cv out of the diff housing.

Ok,

My friend came. gave the diff and axle shaft a long look, took the screw driver and before I finished saying "forgot it, I already did that" the axle shaft was out. go figure  

I think it goes without saying that the snap ring fell into the diff and that the guy at the suzuki part store gave me the wheel side seal instead of the diff side which I asked for.
wierd thing was that the seal I wanted to replace looked in mint condition !  and since I had no replacements and all the stores are closed untill sunday, I decided to try and reuse it.

but the story does have an happy ending:
after 8 hours of hard work to replace a part which I didn't have and didn't need to be replaced in the first place, I closed it all up (took less than an hour when you have 4 hands) filled up the diff and took her for a spin - and guess what the leak is gone !

go figure...

btw, thanks for all the help. and I tried taking all the shortcuts involving *not* taking something apart - that's why it took so long  

stay tuned I'm replacing the timeing and V belts next ...

Rafi.