CV axle help

Hello,
I just changed my passenger side CV yesterday(2008). Install went smoothly and it is all put back together. However, i am now questioning if the cv is fully seated. It seems to be all the way in but if i pull on it, it slides out quite easily. Did i put too much grease on the end? Is it not properly seated? I don't want to have to tear apart the front end again.

 

did you remember that circlip at the end? if it went in very easy without fighting, then you might have forgotten that. You will need to pull the CV and add that back before putting together

 

The circlip was definitely on. It definitely went in without to0 much of a fight though. I put a fair amount of grease around the circlip.

 

The shaft slides easily (that's how it doesn't bind when the suspension compresses). If the end that seats into the differential isn't seated, it will leak gear oil.

 

When its pushed all the way in it doesn't leak. however, I can pull it out far enough by hand that it does leak.

 

This might be a stupid question but when you are pulling on the axle is the knuckle installed/cv axle nut tight?

 

yes, the knuckle is installed and the axle nut is tight. The tire and everything is back on the truck. It just seems like there is much more play than there should be.

 

Crazy, it's like the clip is too weak to hold the cv shaft in the housing.

 

I hate to say it but I would agree that you should remove the axle and make sure the clip is present/not damaged. I just removed both axles yesterday and the pass side was a bitch to get out with that clip.

 

Wait a minute, you said you changed the axle, any chance you went from OEM to cheep cheep aftermarket maybe with the wrong clip? You could probably put the previous axle clip on the new axle.

 

yes they are aftermarket CV's from NAPA. looks like im going to have to pull it again and put the old circlip on the new axle.

 

Did it 'snap' into place when you inserted it? If you have a long bar or punch, try smacking it into the diff a little more. You should here it kind of snap/seat into place. You might be able to do this without taking everything back apart.

 

I do remember it snapping into place. image 1 shows where it is currently sitting. Image 2 shows how far back I can pull to where it starts to drip oil. image 3 shows where i cant pull back any further and it feels like the circlip is catching somewhere.

 

Nice pictures. But that does not look right. Pull apart for safety’s sake. NAPA are usually good products. Check part numbers make sure they are the right part also. Could also be wrong part packed in wrong box.

 

Yeah that's definitely not right. Could it be the wrong side axle. My OEM axles the driver side diff splines part is smooth but the pass side diff splines part has groves/notched in it to allow a slide hammer to be used for removal.
I can take pictures tomorrow at work if you want.

 

This is the axle I replaced my old one with. I layed them side by side and they were definitely the same part. I didn't know they could be driver/passenger side specific though. It could be that.

 

Yeah, that's definitely seated, or in far enough. BUT, it shouldn't be easy to pull out.
Something isn't right. Even if the driver/passenger side were the same length, which I don't believe they are, the shafts on the end should be the same.
You'll need to pull that back out and compare to the unit you replaced and check the clip.

 

I could easily be 100% wrong it was just a though. See if napa/toyota/whoever has different part numbers for left and right

 

They're not side specific.

 

Same CV for both sides. I’m guessing the clip isn’t on there or isn’t doing it’s job. It will have a little play but not nearly that much. First picture looks fully in. I’d tear it down and hope you find the clip, but I guess you’d know pretty quick if it had dropped in the diff…may want to top off your diff fluid if you’ve been driving around like that.