CV Axle replacement issues

Just replaced my passenger side CV axle on my 2003 tacoma 3.4l 4x4. Things went smoothly thanks to the awesome write-ups on this website, however, I am worried I went wrong somewhere because my passenger side tire won't fully spin anymore, it gets hungup after 1/4 turn. Also, there is minor leaking from where the axle meets with the differential, just a drip every couple of minutes.

 

Did you get the CV axle fully seated back in the diff? Also, did you check the diff output seal for any nicks or gouges? If the axle is fully seated and it is leaking, need to pull it back apart and check the seal. Not sure on why it won't turn unless the ADD actuated and the driver side tire is on the ground. Pictures would be helpful.

 

Here is the new cv axle on the passenger side, not totally flush with the differential which makes me feel that it isn't properly seated.

 

Also a picture of the driver side, believed to be stock still.

 

Yeah that definitely doesn't look fully seated. It takes a bit of force to get it fully seated because of the retaining clip on the shaft.

 

^^^ this

Pull it back out, use a heavy grease or vaseline on the retainer clip to keep the clip centered on the shaft end and try sliding it back in. If you have a compressor, a squirt with an air chisel and some hand pressure should be enough vibration to pop it back in. (Although, I don't see any ears on the tripod housing...)

 

I had a bad feeling I was gonna have to take it out again. I thought it didn't matter which direction the retainer clip went in, as long as the splines matched up.

 

What do you mean which way the clip went in? Normally they're already on the shaft and its just a matter of getting the clip to pop back in to the correct spot.

 

Well tomtom said to use heavy grease on the retainer clip to keep it centered on the shaft, I didn't know what he meant by that

 

As you probably noticed when installing the axle that retaining clip has quite a bit of play around the axle shaft itself. So if it is sitting with one edge resting on the shaft it's harder to get it to pop in to place than if you put a bunch of grease around it and center it so the gap is even all the way around.

But it can be spun any way you want. I'm talking about like vertical and horizontal play.

 

Awesome, that makes more sense now that I can picture it. Should any old grease work? Or does Toyota recommend something special?

 

No idea, I just used the old grease I found in the tool bench

 

Okay, so I did the entire process over again this morning, only this time I had some grease and rubber mallet to do it. I took the advice from AK Taco and tomtom and used grease around the retaining clip to hold it in place on the half shaft, which made it easier to line up the splines when inserting it into the differential (retaining clip open end down). The rubber mallet made easy work of seating the axle in the differential, only took 4-5 moderately solid hits to get it to slide in and click. No leaks yet even after driving around the block twice, but that may be due to the lower amount of differential fluid I have now since I lost a little bit from removing the bad axle. I am going to drain and refill the fluid tomorrow and hopefully remain leak free! This job will take much less time I have to do it next go around

 

Usually you will hear a nice thump once it fully seats. My rule of thumb is "if you can still pull it out, it ain't in."

 

Glad TW helped out. Yar, once you do a CV axle, you wonder why you ever paid anyone to do it.