Thread: Removing an Axle without hub disconnect

Hey everyone. Every time I've changed an Axle I've removed the two 17mm bolts that hold the knuckle to the strut. I need to swap out an axle once more but I wanted to avoid diconnecting the knuckle from the strut. I'd rather not have to realign the car if I dont have to.

Has anyone removed a drivers axle without disconnecting the hub?

is it even possible, removing the ball joint????idk

If it was a VW it would be possible... they always fall off

yes sir - take everything off but the balljoints, push the cv axle through with your hand, grasp the rubber collar and push it towards the front of the vehicle, and the hub to the rear of it. it will pop loose. that's the only way.

You have to pull the strut off, everything else can stay. Your alignment shouldnt be off by much or noticable.

make sure you unlock your steering colum if you are leaving the tie rod attached.

I usually break the ball joint loose in replacing axles, but most of the time I have had a lift in order to do it. So yes you can break the ball joint loose as well and not have to take any thing else off.

Why would you want to loosen the ball joint ? All you have to do is remove the to 17mm bolts from the strut and remove the tierod and you just slide the axle out , then repeat in opposite order and you are good to go.

It should not mess with your alignment at all since there is nothing there adjustable... The only thing we can align on the front of our cars is toe. Unless you have eccentric bolts for camber.

I went ahead and just removed the two 17mm bolts. Really the easiest method. Hopefully If any alignment changes have been made it is minimal.

Something else I noticed while I was removing the old axle. My lower ball joint boot is busted. Would a bad ball joint produce a knocking noise under slow speed turning?