Now I understand...
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Joined: Apr 2000
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From: PNW
Now I understand...
Now I understand why people were talking about removing part of the front suspension to replace the half shafts on 4WD Aerostars. Last weekend I replaced the front axle seals on my '95 4WD Aerostar. To ease the process, I removed the pinch bolt for the upper ball joint which allowed me to swing the steering knuckle outboard and get the halfshafts out of the way. Had I not recently replaced an upper ball joint, I would have never thought of removing the pinch bolt. (I didn't know what people were referring to in the previous posts on the halshaft removals.) But now I can see why doing this would make halfshaft removal much, much easier. I wish I'da thunk of it sooner.
By the way, whoever said that removing the front axle takes only 20 minutes must be a super mechanic with all the right tools and/or has done this many times. That's not much more than 1 minute per nut/bolt involved (4 on the driveshaft, 4 each halfshaft, 4 on the axle, 2 pinch bolts). It took me two hours to remove the axle including setting the van up on jack stands and removing the wheels. And unlike what aerocolorado suggested, it did not weigh 40 lbs. coming out and 400 lbs. going back in.
By the way, whoever said that removing the front axle takes only 20 minutes must be a super mechanic with all the right tools and/or has done this many times. That's not much more than 1 minute per nut/bolt involved (4 on the driveshaft, 4 each halfshaft, 4 on the axle, 2 pinch bolts). It took me two hours to remove the axle including setting the van up on jack stands and removing the wheels. And unlike what aerocolorado suggested, it did not weigh 40 lbs. coming out and 400 lbs. going back in.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Portland, OR
Now I understand...
I had to take out my psgr side 1/2 shaft last year, pretty sure I didn't have to remove any suspension stuff (turned out to be my wheel bearing though). I think it has to do with how you jack up the vehicle, maybe I jacked up the crossmember and let the suspension just hang? Can't quite remember...
Mark
Mark
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Joined: Apr 2001
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Now I understand...
Great tip Mikeman, just the kind of out-of-the-box thinking that makes these boards so valuable to others. Bet you won't find similar directions from any shop manual.
BTW, the 40 v 400 remark was intended as a tongue in cheek reference to wrestling the entire front diff assembly out and back in.
BTW, the 40 v 400 remark was intended as a tongue in cheek reference to wrestling the entire front diff assembly out and back in.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: PNW
Now I understand...
Aeroclorado, I realized that your remark was not serious, but I know how hard it can be to install (especially without help from anyone else) fairly heavy or bulky things that came out easy, having been there and done that. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it went back in as easy as it came out, but an extra pair of hands or a lift of some sort would have made it a lot easier.
Biederboat, I have replaced both halfshafts on my van without taking the pinch bolt out and separating the upper arm from the steering knuckle, but I think removing that one bolt will make the job much easier as there is a lot more clearance to remove the halshaft.
Biederboat, I have replaced both halfshafts on my van without taking the pinch bolt out and separating the upper arm from the steering knuckle, but I think removing that one bolt will make the job much easier as there is a lot more clearance to remove the halshaft.
