* 10mm socket
* 1/4-inch ratchet
* Hammer or mallet
* Flat-head screwdriver
* Pry bar
* Crescent wrench
* New CV axle assembly
Instructions
_Front and rear wheel drive procedures are similar, so either set of instructions can be used._
1. Safely support your vehicle.
Pull the parking brake and chock the wheels to prevent the vehicle from rolling. Lift your car according to the guidelines in your vehicle's owner's manual.
2. Loosen lug nuts on the wheel.
Only slightly loosen until you can just begin to turn the lug nuts. This will help prevent them from being seized once you jack the vehicle up. It will be easier to loosen them once the weight of the car is off the lug nuts.
3. Jack the vehicle up.
Jack up the vehicle using a floor jack. Do this very slowly to ensure the safety of the vehicle and yourself.
4. Remove the wheel.
Use a lug wrench to remove the lug nuts holding the tire to the vehicle and loosen until they are easily turned by hand. If you experience any difficulty removing the lug nuts, try spraying them with penetrating oil. Allow the oil to sit for a few minutes before trying again.
5. Remove the cotter pin.
The axle nut will have a cotter pin securing it to the drive shaft. Use pliers or tweezers to remove the cotter pin. If you cannot remove the cotter pin with pliers, you may have to cut through it with wire cutters.
6. Loosen the CV axle nut.
Use a crescent wrench to loosen the CV axle nut, turning counterclockwise. Be careful as this nut can often be very tightly screwed. You will need to place the end of the wrench or another object to provide leverage. Important: It may not be possible to loosen the CV axle nut with a wrench at this point. This is normal. You will need to perform a few additional steps to loosen it later on.
7. Disconnect the sway bar link from the lower control arm.
Some Lumina models have an additional sway bar link connecting the lower control arm and sway bar. If your model has this, it needs to be undone so that you can insert the pry bar used in the following step. Use a 10mm socket to remove the nut holding the sway bar to the lower control arm and pry the pieces apart with a pry bar.
8. Separate the ball joint.
You will need a pry bar to separate the lower ball joint from the knuckle to allow the CV axle to slide out. Position the pry bar between the lower control arm and the steering knuckle and pry the lower control arm down as far as it can go. This should force the ball joint out of its socket.
9. Use a mallet to hammer out the CV axle shaft.
With the CV axle nut still attached, place the end of the axle nut so it is flush against the end of the CV axle. Use a mallet or hammer to hit the end of the CV axle nut. This will push the axle shaft out of the hub and allow you to pry it out. It may be necessary to repeat hammering at the CV axle nut while prying to move the shaft out.
10. Remove the axle nut and washer and take out the CV joint.
Use the wrench or other tool to remove the axle nut and washer from the CV axle. Slide out the CV axle assembly. Place the CV assembly on a work bench or other firm, stable surface.
11. Remove the snap ring.
Use a flat-head screwdriver to pry up at the snap ring and snap it off. Remove the large washer and the bearing cage.
12. Slide out the CV joint.
Once the snap ring has been removed, you can slide the joint off of the axle shaft. This may take a little effort.
13. Clean CV parts.
Clean off the internal and external surfaces of the joint. Inspect all of the parts for wear or pitting. If any of the surfaces appear damaged in any way, it is wise to replace the CV joint.
14. Install the new joint.
Slide the CV joint onto the axle shaft. It may be necessary to rotate the joint slightly at some point to ensure that the splines line up properly.
15. Fit the bearing cage and replace the snap ring.
Position the bearing cage over the end of the axle and install the new snap ring.
16. Install the large washer, and fit the CV axle back into the hub housing.
This can be difficult due to the splines on the axle and the slots on the hub. Rotate the shaft as you are positioning it in the hub until the splines slide in correctly and the CV axle settles all the way into the hub.
17. Install the CV nut.
With the wheel end of the CV axle properly fit into the hub housing, reinstall the CV axle nut. Tighten the CV axle nut until it is snug. Do not tighten it all the way at this point. Just make it tight enough so that it will not come off.
18. Reconnect the lower ball joint.
Connect the lower control arm and steering knuckle by putting the ball joint back into its socket.
19. Reconnect the sway bar link.
If your vehicle has a sway bar link that was disconnected in order to perform this repair, reconnect it now.
20. Replace the wheel and lower the vehicle.
Put the wheel back on and replace the lug nuts. Tighten the lug nuts until they are snug. Slowly lower the vehicle. Lower it until the weight of the vehicle is on the ground. When only the weight of the vehicle is on the ground, finish tightening the lug nuts.
21. Tighten the CV axle nut completely.
Use the crescent wrench to fully tighten the CV axle nut. If you have a torque wrench, tighten to 175 ft-lbs (237 Nm).
22. Install a new cotter pin.
A new cotter pin should come with your CV axle. Insert the pin through the hole in the CV axle nut. Bend the ends of the cotter pin so that it cannot slide out.
_Note: CV axles are relatively simple components to repair. However, the vehicle has to be raised at the least (jacked up) and if you do not have the proper equipment, it can be dangerous. If you are uncomfortable working on a raised vehicle, consult a trusted mechanic to make sure the repair is completed safely._
