MS6 Rear Axle Removal and Install

[CruZ_MS6]

A tutorial on rear axle shaft removal and install. This is the way I found to be the easiest after pulling them several times, just 4 bolts to pull the shaft out. You will use the mini sledge for smacking bolts out of their places and need floor jack and jackstands/blocks of wood to support your car.

To start gather the following parts:

-Both axles from The Driveshaft Shop part #: RA6285L2 (Left/Driverside), RA6286L2 (Right/Passide) I found that THMotorsports had them pretty cheap mine shipped were $704.22 using discount codes found on the net

-Differential seals from the Mazda or Ford Stealership part#: F003-27-238C about $10

Tools Needed:

-1/2" and 3/8" drive Ratchets
-10mm socket with driver
-17mm Sockets in both drives
-17mm open end wrench
-mini sledge
-1 1/4" impact Socket
-Impact driver for above socket
-Large Center Punch

Steps
1) Remove both Rear tires
2) Set Parking brake
3) Remove Axle Nuts with Impact


4) With 10mm remove speed sensor cable bracket located front of the wheel well both sides.
5) Remove the bolts to the upper control arm, lower control arm, and what I would call the pan hard (fix if you know)



6) Now the axle is ready to be pulled out. Place Center Punch in the divit of the axle end and smack with the Mini Sledge untill axle comes out of spindle. Now to pull the axle out of the Differential grab the axle end you have and use it like a slide hammer. The axle should pop out if not then use pry bar and wedge it between the diff housing and axle and pry like hell!


7) The axles are ready to go back in go in reverse order and make sure you get the c-clip on the axles to click into place when pulling them into the differential. Also note that the caliper will need you to turn the piston back in which is where the needle nose pliers come in handy.


Thank you

[Raider]

$500,000 MSF Bucks sent for this thread!

[Docnox]

Nice writeup, that actually doesn't look that bad. Now no one will have an excuse not to launch the tits outta their car at the track.

[Mcklveen02]

Just snapped my rear driver side axle the other day. I've been looking all over for a new one. I don't want to pay dealer price nor do I want to upgrade I just want own standards. Can you fill me in on where to get one? Maybe a price range? I've tried NAPA, advance auto and auto zone. They only carry the the fronts.

Typo. Own=OEM. Btw very nice write up! It will help me tons!

[Don06speed6]

You can have them rebuilt. Rock Auto offers that service for $163 a side

[Mcklveen02]

Thanks a lot, never heard of rock auto though. I searched google, looks like I'll have to ship it to them to do?

[Don06speed6]

That I don't know. I would imagine you would ship to whoever is rebuilding them. They are a great site. Got my lower control arms from them, and I believe the spill valve is a direct replacement too!

[Tenchix]

Cool deal thanks for the write up

[Mcklveen02]

Awesome man thanks a lot! I also see your from Scranton, I'm right below you in Tamaqua, let me know if there are ever meets or anything around the area!

[CruZ_MS6]

It's going to be cheaper to just do the upgrade. I put a used one in and that same week broke it. A rebuild takes to long and it's just going to brake again.

Use the links and places I mentioned and do it once then forget it.

If not
169 fixed then brake
169 fixed then brake

Now you tore it down three times and wasted 600 and was down for almost a month.

OR

You can put the strong shit in your not stock application and be done with it.

[jmhinkle]

Just to clarify, if your axle is already broken then you can't use the outer part like a slide hammer. My upper cv joint had disintegrated when I decided to be guinea pig for the DSS axle and it pulled out of the cup without much force. I had to use a real slide hammer to get the upper section out of the diff.

A couple of other notes about replacing the axles. You are supposed to replace the seal in the diff each time you swap an axle and they are fairly cheap so no reason not to. Lastly, the C clip on the new axle is supposed to be installed with the opening at the top.

[Mistersix]

I found that the drivers side axle and throwing some grease around so its time for a new seal. Can someone elaborate on this "slide hammer" your talking about.

[jmhinkle]

lmgtfy.........

[CruZ_MS6]

Originally Posted by Mistersix I found that the drivers side axle and throwing some grease around so its time for a new seal. Can someone elaborate on this "slide hammer" your talking about.

What I meant by this is the axle slides in and out of the diff for suspension travel. Push the axle all the way in then yank it out fast and it should pop out.


Then use a screw driver to pry out the seal.

[Downmented]

Good find on the cheaper DSS axles. Id also like to point out that removal of the break caliper is not needed. Just an extra step. Otherwise, great write up.

[JMEngineer]

My right rear axle will NOT come out of the hub.

The PB Blaster and torch did nothing at all. The full size sledge hammer did succeed in fucking up my hub and bearing so now I get to buy more parts but the axle still hasn't moved at all. I don't think working on a car has ever pissed me off like this.

[superskaterxes]

i used a slide hammer to get the axle out of my hub

[jmhinkle]

Originally Posted by JMEngineer My right rear axle will NOT come out of the hub. The PB Blaster and torch did nothing at all. The full size sledge hammer did succeed in fucking up my hub and bearing so now I get to buy more parts but the axle still hasn't moved at all. I don't think working on a car has ever pissed me off like this.

You have the hub loose and floating around to get more play out of the axle right? You took the nut off right? I never had a single problem on the hub side, but we don't have rust here.

Originally Posted by superskaterxes i used a slide hammer to get the axle out of my hub

Out of your hub as well? Out of the diff side definitely, but how did you do it on the hub?

[superskaterxes]

Originally Posted by jmhinkle Out of your hub as well? Out of the diff side definitely, but how did you do it on the hub?

yea, my axle was in 2 pieces like yours so i used the slide hammer to PUSH the axle out of the hub instead of the way u would normally use a slide hammer to pull something out lol

[jmhinkle]

That makes more sense.

[JMEngineer]

Originally Posted by jmhinkle You have the hub loose and floating around to get more play out of the axle right? You took the nut off right? I never had a single problem on the hub side, but we don't have rust here.

I started with the hub loose and the nut off.
I ended up pulling off the rest of the axle (separated the outer CV and cut the boot) and bolting the knuckle back in place so I could get more force on the stub axle with the hammer.
The air hammer also did nothing last weekend.

I'll keep trying the torch-PB blaster-air hammer combo until it works or until I decide to pay $800+ for a new knuckle just to be done with it.

[reyan]

Thanks for this post, only my inner axle is in my differential, I had a guy trying to build a 400 hp axle for me but couldn't get it to work. My question is the seal that comes out of the.differential if that gets bent or damage would the.differential leak fluid? I am only speaking about the end of the seal that projects out of the.differential.

[JDW1]

I may be looking to do this. I don't quite have everything but think I can swing it. Anyone want to chime in on a difficulty scale 1-10?

[Downmented]

Originally Posted by JDW1 I may be looking to do this. I don't quite have everything but think I can swing it. Anyone want to chime in on a difficulty scale 1-10?

5

[mlamp89]

Originally Posted by CruZ_MS6 What I meant by this is the axle slides in and out of the diff for suspension travel. Push the axle all the way in then yank it out fast and it should pop out. Then use a screw driver to pry out the seal.

thanks for the write-up. I got all the way to pulling the stock axle out of the diff. I'm going to yank some more, but just to make sure, there isnt anything that needs to be done with the clip before I pull it out? As in, the clip isnt holding the axle in the diff?

thanks

[jmhinkle]

The clip is holding the axle in place in the diff and the statement that the axle slides in and out of the diff for the suspension travel is completely wrong and actually quite assinine. The cv joints are were the play is. You push those all the way in and then attempt to yank hard and pop the clip in the diff. When that doesn't work or if one of your cv's is broken like mine you will need to resort to the slide hammer I posted.

[CruZ_MS6]

Ur so quik nice write up

Originally Posted by jmhinkle The clip is holding the axle in place in the diff and the statement that the axle slides in and out of the diff for the suspension travel is completely wrong and actually quite assinine. The cv joints are were the play is. You push those all the way in and then attempt to yank hard and pop the clip in the diff. When that doesn't work or if one of your cv's is broken like mine you will need to resort to the slide hammer I posted.

[mlamp89]

Originally Posted by jmhinkle The clip is holding the axle in place in the diff and the statement that the axle slides in and out of the diff for the suspension travel is completely wrong and actually quite assinine. The cv joints are were the play is. You push those all the way in and then attempt to yank hard and pop the clip in the diff. When that doesn't work or if one of your cv's is broken like mine you will need to resort to the slide hammer I posted.

I went to get a slide hammer. But I don't know how well it will work because my boot is separated. the slide hammer wants to bolt onto the lugs. and obviously I can not do that if the hub is not connected to the shaft. I've tried to pull and pry, but no such luck. It moves in and out of the diff a little bit, but gets stopped. Is there any other steps or tricks that I should know about?

[jmhinkle]

The slide hammer I have has different shaped ends. One would get behind the portion right at the diff.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

[mlamp89]

Originally Posted by jmhinkle The slide hammer I have has different shaped ends. One would get behind the portion right at the diff. Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

Alright. Maybe auto zone has one like that. My other local store didn't. Thanks


Not looking like autozone has anything. But then again I dont know exactly what I'm looking for. Any chance you could post a picture of your attachment?

[mlamp89]

Originally Posted by jmhinkle The slide hammer I have has different shaped ends. One would get behind the portion right at the diff. Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

Not looking like autozone has anything. But then again I dont know exactly what I'm looking for. Any chance you could post a picture of your attachment?

[superskaterxes]

you just need to put a pry bar between the diff and the cup of the axle. u need to pry like a mofo and make a jerking motion and it will come out.

[mlamp89]

Originally Posted by superskaterxes you just need to put a pry bar between the diff and the cup of the axle. u need to pry like a mofo and make a jerking motion and it will come out.

I'll give it another go. The problem is that its the rear passenger side, so the exhaust pipe is in the way. While I was prying, I was moving the diff around. So i didnt know if that was a bad thing. Maybe I can get someone to pull the axle while I pry.

[superskaterxes]

Originally Posted by mlamp89 I'll give it another go. The problem is that its the rear passenger side, so the exhaust pipe is in the way. While I was prying, I was moving the diff around. So i didnt know if that was a bad thing. Maybe I can get someone to pull the axle while I pry.

lol damm never heard of breaking that side haha

pry away at that bitch, no fear!

[mlamp89]

Originally Posted by jmhinkle The slide hammer I have has different shaped ends. One would get behind the portion right at the diff. Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

How about a picture of that? I just had someone pulling while I pryed. And no luck.

[jmhinkle]

This should be what you are looking for.

[mlamp89]

Originally Posted by jmhinkle This should be what you are looking for.

Dang. Yea that would work. But I haven't found an attachment like that anywhere.

[jmhinkle]

You can see in the pic mine came with all sorts of different attachments. I like it better than those kid that have fingers.

[mlamp89]

Originally Posted by jmhinkle You can see in the pic mine came with all sorts of different attachments. I like it better than those kid that have fingers.

did you get it at an autoparts store like autozone? or somewhere special?

[jmhinkle]

My dad picked it up years ago from somewhere. Handed it down to me about 5 years ago as he doesn't do heavy car work anymore. It wasn't anything fancy though brand wise. Had to come from some sort of discount type store.