Replacing axles on '93 Caravan, any advice?

The patient; 1993 Caravan with the 2.5 and 3 spd auto transaxle.

The left side axle gave up last week. Has the tell-tale clicking sound whenever making a turn.

Thanks to a member who posted a discount code for Advanced Auto, I can get both axles for less than $100 (new axles, not rebuilts), so, I figured I'd replace both. The van has almost 110K on it.

I've never replaced an axle before on a FWD. Heck, this is the first FWD I've owned.

I've read the manual, I've watched several videos on youtube, it seems pretty straight forward.

Any sage words of advice from those that have does this before? Short cuts, things to look out for, etc, etc?

Thanks!

First thing do not forget to pull the speed sensor out of the trans. Pulling the right side driveshaft is a female dog if you forget. Secondly disconnect the sway bar from both lower control arms. If you don't, it's a real problem to get the lower control arm dropped down enough to get the ball joint to separate. Oh, make sure you have a pan under the transmission when you pull the driveshafts and don't screw up the oil seals in the transaxle when you pull the driveshafts.

Thanks Roger! Exactly what I'm looking for!

Dang. Looks like the van has stronger nuts than me.

I soaked the axle nuts in PB Blaster overnight. I know I don't have the strongest impact gun, but, gave it a try......nothing.

Got after it with my quality craftsman 1/2" breaker bar and a length of pipe, sheared the end of the breaker bar off.

So much for saving money. I'm either going to have to buy a stronger impact, or, find a shop that will bust 'em loose for me.

I've never done a Caravan Axle, but usually, there is a bent over bit of the axle nut that nests in a slot in the axle stub. Did you pry this up?

There is no substitute for real tools. If you have a no-name impact, pitch it. I have an IR Titanium 1/2" and it has never failed me.

Finally, perhaps a 3/4 drive Harbor Freight breaker bar is what you need here. Check the torque spec's on these nuts, but other cars that I've done typically spec the torque at 300ft-lbs, so this is heavy duty work.

Astrobuf

I got 'em. I McGuivered a tool together. Came off with no resistance.

But, you're right, I do need to step up to better/real tools. My impact is good for lug nuts and stuff of that nature, not much more.

Torque spec is 180ft-lbs. Axle seals are cheap and common stock at any decent parts store, if you can spare the $20 to replace them it wont be money wasted, if you havnt already installed the new axles.

just inc case I'm not to late to the party.

raise the whole ft end off the ground to let the susp hang.
pul the wheels amd remove the large axle nut in the center( you can stick a screwdriver in the vents of the rotor to lock it in place)

remove the pinch bolt in the bottom of the spindle that secures the lower ball joint stud

with a long prybar or somthing similar push the lower control arm down to pop the lower ball koint out of the spindle. ( you DO NOT have to remove the sway bar)

once the joint is out of the spindle. rotate the axle and you will find a small ledge or edge on the inner joint hsg right where the inner boot attaches, snag a screw driver or something on the axle and pop it out of the differential.
slide a drain pan under there as it will leak out.

reverse to install.

you do not have to remove any speed sensor

let it down and run it around the block , ck'ing trans fluid level both before and after the test drive.

Sway bar is 4 bolts to unbolt from the control arms and it swings down out of the way while still attached to the k-frame. Much less effort to just undo them and not have the bar fighting you the entire time

Not pulling the speed sensor is but guaranteed to damage the plastic drive gear. I have a box of destroyed speedo gears to attest to from idiots who left it installed while removing the p-side axle. Its one 10mm bolt to remove the sensor and set it safely out of the way...

And there are no clips on the inner axle ends.

Appreciate the further comments, none are too late at this point. I tore down the left side Sunday, forgetting about an 'invitation' my Wife suckered me into, so I didn't finish....

Today I knew I had an eye exam after work, but, didn't take into consideration my eyes being dilated (I couldn't see)....so I didn't even touch the van today.

How long should an axle swap take?

Anyway......should there be any resistance when pulling the axle out of the trans? I swung the knuckle out of the way, not paying attention to the axle because I wasn't expecting it to go anywhere, and it just fell out! Almost landed in my lap!

I hope the pass side is just as easy.

I've GOT to finish tomorrow as we're supposed to get rain starting Wednesday.

Thanks for the replies, they're appreciated!

As a laugh, here's a pic of my 'home made' tool for busting loose the axle nuts. Take one heavy construction bar, one pipe wrench, a couple of muffler clamps, and a cheap socket that doesn't matter if it gets tore up and voila'!



A proper impact would have been nice, but, I just don't have the $$$ for one, especially for how little I would end up using it.

Between other commitments and the weather, the passenger side got put off until today.

WOW! What a difference one week and the opposite side makes!

On the drivers side, EVERYTHING fought me. Between lack of proper tools and never having done this before, it took me altogether close to eight hrs.

As difficult as the drivers side was, the passenger side was EASY. Took me just over AN HOUR to swap axles.

I think part of the problem too with the drivers side was that this thing has been wrecked on the drivers side. Any parts swapping done, stuff was just 'slammed home' rather than torqued to spec.

So, now, this thing rides SOLID. No more funky noises (some other noises I heard are gone now too).

Thanks for the help everyone. It took me awhile, but I got it done.

Quote:

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As a laugh, here's a pic of my 'home made' tool for busting loose the axle nuts. Take one heavy construction bar, one pipe wrench, a couple of muffler clamps, and a cheap socket that doesn't matter if it gets tore up and voila'!



A proper impact would have been nice, but, I just don't have the $$$ for one, especially for how little I would end up using it.

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Jeff Foxworthy could have a field day with this picture...You might be a redneck if...