I needed to replace my ball joints and tie rod ends, and decided that while I was there, I would do brakes and struts.  I pulled the calipers, removed the tie rod from the spindle, removed the strut, and popped the ball joint from the control arm.  I went to turn the spindle over to pull the old ball joint out and the entire axle pulled out from the inner cv leaving the female end of the axle on the dif and the boot on the axle.  Is this normal?

Not normal but possible to do.

 

You might get away with reseating it without taking the boot off.

If not, you'll need a new set of boot clamps because you;ll need to pull the boot back to get it back in.

The newer Models to that if you pull to hard, Just did it the other day when installing my lift. Not a huge problem, put it back in and get the boot back on. Maybe a little grease depending on how much leaked out

 

Patrick

If the boots are the originals, why not replace them while you've got the axle out?

Especially the inner-boot, since that is the one that often fails (due to heat from the nearby exhaust).

Edited January 31, 201511 yr by forester2002s

If the boots are the originals, why not replace them while you've got the axle out?

Especially the inner-boot, since that is the one that often fails (due to heat from the nearby exhaust).

Would you believe the boot is in still supple and free of cracks after 170k?  I was shocked too. 

The newer Models to that if you pull to hard, Just did it the other day when installing my lift. Not a huge problem, put it back in and get the boot back on. Maybe a little grease depending on how much leaked out

 

Patrick

Good to know.  The boots are still good, so I'll just pop it back in with some new goo, because.  I plan on grabbing a salvage from Denver this spring or summer and doing a transplant so I can have a dual range 5 speed.  Seems like a lot less headache to do a reshell than swap my auto for a manual.