Axle Shaft Replacement near Washington, District of Columbia

For CV axles, the wheel, axle nut or axle bolt, brake caliper, brake caliper mounting bracket, and brake rotor must be removed. Then, the most advantageous suspension component is disconnected from the steering knuckle to allow the CV axle to slide free from the bearing and hub assembly. The CV axle is then removed from the transmission or differential, and the new shaft will be installed in the reverse order. For straight axles, removal of all the same components is necessary, with the addition of the differential cover. This cover must be removed to disconnect the drive axle from the differential. The differential will be cleaned, inspected and resealed when the new axles are installed.

We recommend following the manufacturer's maintenance schedule. Changing the differential oil for straight axles is the single most important maintenance task for this part, and the most often overlooked.

For both types of front axle, the amount of free-play in the wheel can be an indicator of a failed wheel bearing, which may cause damage to the axle if the vehicle is driven.

This job should be left to a professional. The vehicle must be lifted, suspension parts must be dismantled, and a lot of labor is involved.