"Simple" Swap of stock parts for stock parts, so you'd think.

1. Driver's side jacked up, check.

2. Strut assembly removed entirely(had to adjust ride height anyways, 2 birds 1 stone), check.

3. Ball joint partially removed, nut on the steering knuckle stripped out. No biggie, grinder, penetrant, impact gun. Ball joint removed. New part shipped 2 days later, got it today.

4. Tie rod end... Seized tight, drove me nuts. Mushroomed the bolt when the castle nut twisted on a hammer blow. I started by smacking the steering knuckle on the side btw, out of frustration I smacked the nut a few times too. Lesson learned. New tie rod end, $10.99 was amazing compared to their $47 quote for a ball joint... No, I didn't pay $47.

5. The axle itself... Pried it free from the hub assembly, simply as can be. Transmission end... pain in the a--.
I ended up renting a puller($80) from AutoZone, which didn't grab well enough to pull it.... Out with the grinder, there goes my $10 core on the Axle. Ground the mo-fo down and the puller grabbed a little too well. I couldn't get the damn thing off without further destroying the axle. Admittedly, this was the most enjoyable part of the process.

6. Replacing the axle... The new one would NOT go past the little pinch ring. Simply ridiculous, I've NEVER had this much trouble with a simple task before. I kind of wanted to destroy something, so I had a little more fun with that broken, now worthless, axle. Once again, the highlight of my experience today.

In conclusion, next time I'll pay 2 hours shop rate, because this was fricken ridiculous. This was not worth saving $100 doing myself, I don't care what anybody says. -.-

Seriously though, how in the living hell do you force these things in? I turned it, twisted it, tried every single variable direction on the pinch ring(literally, changed it 15 degrees at a time, seeing if there was a "sweet spot" that the little bastard liked. No go, I spent over an hour trying to force an axle into the transmission. Help? Either you guys do it, or a shrink does, because I'm done. -.-

did you try getting a pry bar and pry against the tranny to get the axle out?
i've never worked on a V6 but i will pretty soon when i get around to getting a new axle.
As for my 4cyl doing just the axle i can probably get it done it about 20 min, that's including jacking up the car and stuff, so as far as just the axle i've never had that much of an issue before.

so you didnt get it in? the driver side axle on a v6 tranny are a B**CH to get in. i cant explain how i had it or anything, i sat there for 25 minutes turning it little bits then ramming. i noticed the straighter you can keep the axle as ur ramming the better. but dont pull it out to change the position of the ring. just turn the cv as you try to get it in. itll get past the ring a bit first, then keep it there n just give it all you got n itll go the rest of the way.

My first thought is you could try hitting the axle end with your porkchop forehead, if that doesn't work I found attempting to 'snap' it in is how I got mine in (I've done a few). My concern is you don't have the right axle. Count the splines and report back.

Evo_Spec,
Removal was a PITA, but installation has proved impossible so far.

cWs306,
I'm prepping to give it another shot right now, after I count the splines, as Dan suggested. I should have done that first -.-

Dan,
Thank you, but I tried that already. Unfortunately, the only result was a ringing in my ears. It's a good thing I have a thick clay roof to protect me from falling objects for a few days.

The spline count adds up, It's the proper axle in every way.

It just hates me. Going out to try again now...

one thing i've done in the past is line it up so i know the spines are lined up and get someone to hold the axle straight and i tapped it in with a sludge hammer. literally tapped, not slammed (took about 3 or 4 taps)

Let me know if you figure it out. I have to replace mine also as the one I have on there was replaced 2 years ago and it's clunking

Myself and 2 friends were able to get it in there... I couldn't find my sledges, either one. -.- They're completely GONE, which is another point of frustration for me... Bleh.

Anyways, we lined it up and smacked the old axle nut(threaded partially on to the axle) while twisting by hand. After about 20 minutes, we got it at an angle where it took. This was AFTER dark, so I'll throw the rest back together tomorrow after class.

Basically, I'll be cruising tomorrow!!!!! FINALLY.

good to hear it worked out, now you know how to do it so next time it should be really quick.

Unfortunately, it took 3 of us pounding, banging, twisting, and cramming to get the axle in. I would have had far less trouble with a sledge in hand, but couldn't find either of mine. -.- Next time I'll go buy one if I have to, this was ridiculous.

wow, I hate to say this but last time I changed my LH axle it took 15mins... 20 if you count refilling the transmission

Anyhow next time have a good quality soft blow hammer, the bead filled type work best, have someone/or straps to hold the strut spindle assm back, then set the axle in place and compress it best possible so the joints are tight and the splines set close, then while holding the outer joint in hand WHAM! One shot it goes in

Lucky you!

Nah, it sounds like you went in prepared for the job. That's never a bad thing, and it's never luck that causes success in that case

Unfortunately for me, I can't afford to replace my missing tools at the moment... Times have been hard, and it took me a month to buy a balljoint, tie rod end, and axle. My money goes straight to bills right now.

So I got the car pieced back together 100% today, even took the time to raise the front end 1/4".

That stopped the clunking over ALL bumps, except the harshest, which I can learn to live with. I need bump stops...

Still, the original problem has NOT gone away. It literally feels like the wheel is catching on something as it rotates around. It's literally once every rotation, I feel one single clunk. This happens at all speeds above 10 MPH. When coasting, the vibration is way less harsh, but still present. The harder I accelerate, the more she vibrates.

Doesn't this scream bad axle to you? -.- My next thought was possibly a bad motor mount. They all look fine to me, no noticeable damage and there's no vibration unless I'm driving. It comes back to Axles then, unless somebody has another suggestion...

Prior to replacing the axle, tie rod end, and ball joint(all on the driver's side), the vibration felt as if it came from the left corner. After replacing the above mentioned parts, the vibration feels as if it's dead center in the front end.

I should note, the VERY last thing I did before these symptoms started was replacing the harmonic balancer and installing a new Powersteering belt, bypassing the A/C compressor. I'll pull that belt tomorrow and see if that changes anything...

I JUST realized something big.

The very last thing I did before the vibration and clunking started was replace my harmonic balancer and depower my A/C compressor... Naturally, I also removed the power steering belt. Anybody guess where I'm going with this?

How do I go about diagnosing the power steering system? I don't even know where to begin, but I have a feeling this is my problem.