I never did it before and I don't want to ruin them. Do I have to remove the rotors and wheel bearings? I looked, but couldn't find anything. Any help is appreciated!

Thanks



2004 Cavalier
13.2@105........
Mods...
BFG Drag Radials
Saab Turbo kit
2.5 exhaust, w/cutout
Spec Stage 2+ Clutch

you will be removing the rotors, wheel hub, axle spindle, struts, rims, lug nuts,......

Wow, I didn't think I needed to take all that off. I still need to remove the hub, spindle, and struts.



2004 Cavalier
13.2@105........
Mods...
BFG Drag Radials
Saab Turbo kit
2.5 exhaust, w/cutout
Spec Stage 2+ Clutch

Get your self one of these....





Using a pry bar is soo 20th century.....

One slide of the hammer and shafts were out. However, you do not have to remove the hubs.

1) Tires and lug nuts
2) CV shaft nut. ( 30mm special deep socket at auto store)
3) Rotors, hang caliper from springs with something so it won't fall.
4) With a punch and hammer tap cv free out of splines.
5) You can either;
a) drop the lower ball joint
b) Remove the strut bolts from steering knuckle
6) Maneuver steering knuckle and cv shaft apart.
7) You can dick around with a pry bar ( risk ruining seals) or use what i used above. I got the adapter at autozone for ten bucks and the slider hammer at harbor freight.

Have fun.

^ You'll ruin the axle seals with a prybar if you're a complete retard. Otherwise, you can just use the prybar to pop the axles loose and then you can usually pull it the rest of the way by hand.

yea i have pulled my axles out i think 4 times now and never had a problem with a prybar. no damage to the seals or anything. good luck man


"sometimes the respect is more important..."

You never know someone's level of automotive skill on here or how to properly use a pry bar..Lmao, which is why i wrote you run the risk of ruining the seal. Primarily the passenger output shaft seal side.

I personally never had an issue with a pry bar tearing seals either, but that new toy is trick!

I am borderline retarded... so I'll probably tear the seals to hell and back. lol Thanks for the help guys I really appreciate it. It doesn't sound very hard. I just didn't know where to start.



2004 Cavalier
13.2@105........
Mods...
BFG Drag Radials
Saab Turbo kit
2.5 exhaust, w/cutout
Spec Stage 2+ Clutch

When I used to remove mine this is how I would do it...

1 - take wheel off
2 - take 2 bolts out for the strut
3 - take the axle nut off
4 - 1 good hammer hit on the axle and it would loosen from the wheel bearing
5 - pull the rotor / spindel one way and pull the axle out from the rotor / wheel bearing area
6 - drain the tranny fluid
7 - put a flat screw dirver by the trans between the axle and trans and pry it a little and it will pop out

That sound like the easiest way Karo. Thanks



2004 Cavalier
13.2@105........
Mods...
BFG Drag Radials
Saab Turbo kit
2.5 exhaust, w/cutout
Spec Stage 2+ Clutch

Got one side out but not off. Should I pry right between the trans and the axle? I don't see how it could ruin the seals... Or do take the seals off..

I'm just trying not to break anything.


2004 Cavalier
13.2@105........
Mods...
BFG Drag Radials
Saab Turbo kit
2.5 exhaust, w/cutout
Spec Stage 2+ Clutch

Stick the pry bar between the axle lip if you will and tranny housing. Kind of give it a tight jerk and it'll pop out easy...may take a few jerks to get it out..

Remove wheel, remove axle nut, remove nut and cotter pin from ball joint, separate lower control arm from the steering knuckle and push the half shaft through the knuckle with the wheel turned to the direction depending on which shaft you are removing and then you can remove the shaft. Pry bar is easiest if you don't have the puller but as said don't damage the seal, but then again its only a $5 part

I got'em out no problem. Thanks guys. I was just being cautious.

Now I just have to figure out whether to cut off some of the subframe or just drop the whole thing down so I can drop the trans. There aren't very many useful threads including any kind of helpful info on how to remove the trans... Bummer, I guess I'll wing it.



2004 Cavalier
13.2@105........
Mods...
BFG Drag Radials
Saab Turbo kit
2.5 exhaust, w/cutout
Spec Stage 2+ Clutch

We'll i took the skwirly approach and cut the end off the subframe. Everything is disconnected and ready to go!!! only 6... or maybe 7 bolts left holding on the trans. We'll be dropping the trans 2morrow. Hopefully it will come out easily.
Thanks everyone for the help!



2004 Cavalier
13.2@105........
Mods...
BFG Drag Radials
Saab Turbo kit
2.5 exhaust, w/cutout
Spec Stage 2+ Clutch

ECOTEC ..... how'd you make out with the tranny...

I'm about to go through the same thing for my 03 Cavalier
You are right ...."There aren't very many useful threads including any kind of helpful info on how to remove the trans... "

can you give me some guidance on what not to do.... what to watch out for
Do I need to pull the engine to remove it? you indicated something about cutting the subframe?

any help / pics would be appreicaited

lol the easy way is to pull the tire!
unbolt the outertie rod end
pull the two struts bolts
the axle bolt
the spindle should fall forward may need to knock the axle out of the spindle with a hammer
spin the axle everyhalf turn and hit the cup that in the trans untill you get all around the axle.. may need to use a prybar on the end of the axle to remove from the trans

i can have the axles out of the cav unless than 10 min a peace!

chris howard wrote:i can have the axles out of the cav unless than 10 min a peace!

hey hey hey that better be cunky..or im gonna be pissed haha

what i did the other day was...

remove the wheels
take off the calipers and rotors from the steering knuckle.
took off the balljoint on the lower control arm
took off the stabilzer end link bolt,
used a prybar to pry the axle out...


now the axle i bought didnt come with the end piece that goes into the tranny, so i just used a hammer and got it off the old axle and inserted it in the new one....watch the clip and make sure you hear the popping sound, to indicate that the two pieces are now 1.


it would be much easier to explain if i was there, my teach showed me the easiest way to do it, since he's a master tech he's been doing it for years and years.

Be careful about that piece that came out of the trans. Mine came out when I replaced the pass. axle. A few days later the axle just popped out driving down the road. I ended up having to get a new clip.