Replacing axle shafts - '98 EX
 

Hi all,
The wife's '98 EX has torn a CV boot, and I didn't catch it until now. I figure it's easier at this point to replace the axle shafts with rebuilt units.
I've changed shafts on other cars, but not on a Honda.

Anything I should know before I tackle this project? Any tips that the experts can give me to make it as easy as possible?

Also, do I have to get past that factory-deformed nut at the end of the axle shaft?

Thanks, guys!

leave wheel on, take center cap(if you have them) of hub cap off, remove that big center nut, then jack car up remove wheel, unbolt bottom bolt on shock fork, then
Attachment 15036


then pry axle out from trans and install new axle, MAKE SURE NEW AXLE GOES ALL THE WAY IN TRANS(NO GAP)

Use a hammer and punch to punch the deformed part of the nut back out if you want to, though with enough force it will just unscrew anyway. Like 94 said, loosen the axle nut first before taking anything else apart. If you don't have an impact wrench do it with the car on the ground reaching through the center of the wheel like 94 said.

Thanks, guys. I've got a pretty big breaker bar - Sounds like I can bust the deformed nut off if I crank hard enough.

^ lol yeah good luck on that, post pics of the boken breaker bar when you do it,


my best tip is to put socket on nut and use a monkey wrench and a real long pipe and stand on it.

When I say I have a big breaker bar, I mean a BIG breaker bar :) I got tired of monkeying around with pipes and broken ratchets a long time ago.

ive had a few really big breaker bars and still broke them. the part that goes into the socket snaps everytime. i found that technique i mentioned above works perfect.

Transmission Fluid
 

I bought new axle shafts as well, for my 98 civic DX. I just can't remember, am I going to have to drain the transmission fluid first before i remove the axle shafts?

No you don't have to drain the fluid. A little MIGHT trickle out but that's about it.

Make sure you pull out the retaining clip when the axle comes out, you don't want that left in there. And yes, make sure when installing the new one that tenretaining clip has snapped in place and the axle is all the way in.