[Steering & Suspension] Drive shaft/CV replacement success - you don't have to undo all the joints!!

[westfielder]

Just to save others time

If your shafts or CVs need replacing - it's quite cheap to by aftermarket complete made-up shafts

To installl is simple

Drain gearbox oil (keep the oil and reuse)
remove hub nut retaining pins and locking cover
Loosen big tight hub nut
Wheel off
Remove hub nut
you DON'T need to undo the bottom ball joint, or the drop link or the steering rod ends - leave them all in place. Just undo the two bolts that join the shock absorber to the hub.

(On the RH shaft there is an extra small plate to remove with 2 torx bolts to allow the mid shaft nearing to slide out of its housing)

A bit of rocking the hub and tapping on the end of the shaft and pulling the hub away from shaft (rotating hub) and the shaft will just clear the hub with the occasional rotation of the shaft.

Replace drive shaft oil seals on gearbox as they only cost a few quid and old ones are easily damaged if shafts are removed or not inserted straight.

Bung in new shafts 


Refill the gearbox oil via the filler bolt in the left hand wheel arch withe the vehicle level - don't overfill, just to the point where it starts leaking out

Took about 45 minutes a side - far easier than I thought it was all going to be

Nick