Help: Front Drive Shaft Removal

matdav · Post by **matdav** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 4:10 pm

Hello -

Could anyone give some advice on getting the front drive shaft out of a 1989 Legacy Wagon 4WD.

I've got the wheel and drive shaft nut off as per my Gregory's service manual. Now it says:-
Remove pinch bolt from the lower control arm ball joint and lever down on the control arm to release the ball joint from the steering knucke

This is were I'm (it's) stuck. So I've removed the nut (red circle) and now I'm expected to lever down on the control arm (yellow arrow)? I've tried but it doesn't want to budge. So I remove another bolt (blue circle) which seemed to be the only other thing connected to the control arm. That didn't help either.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 5:14 pm

remove the 14mm bolt above the balljoint ,that should make it easier

subybrumby · Post by **subybrumby** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 5:56 pm

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but as Jeff says, Remove the bolt that holds the ball joint in place, its next to the yellow arrow in your photo, might be 17ml. Take that bolt right out, and I think the tie rod end too, undo it also and release. Push the lower control arm down to release the ball joint from its resting place, You will see now how that bolt holds it in place through a groove. Now pull the wheel out toward you and the axle should free itself. I think you will need to release the tie rod to get the travel you need.

Busdriver · Post by **Busdriver** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:04 pm

To get the tie rod end out, do not hit the thread with a hammer.Hit the housing on the side of the tie rod end to break the taper and the tie rod should pop out, maybe even leave the nut on till the tie rod is loose to protect the thread.You have also removed the link mount bolt from between the swaybar and the control arm, which will only make it easier to push the control arm down.

matdav · Post by **matdav** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 8:59 am

Ah I see. Caught out by the not so subtle difference between a nut and a bolt.

Took the bolt out and then had to whack down on the control arm with a hammer and bit of wood. Finally got the ball joint out. Probably didn't even need to take the nut (red circle) off in the end.

Drive shaft out now.

Thanks

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:29 am

Sometimes, they can be very stubborn to be removed, spray some WD40 on that area overnight then in the morning with one wack of hammer will help.
Cheers
AP

SUBIIE · Post by **SUBIIE** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:33 am

mate,

ball joint seperator is the way to go. about $10 from supercheap and is a large wedge shaped fork. With a couple of big bangs with the hammer will easily come undone and then use your large breaker bar to lever the lower control arm down. dont hammer the thread!

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:05 am

and when I reassemble all these tight fit bits I smear grease on bottom of shock tube where it fits in, the ball joint and tie rod taper and clean up bolt threads with wire bruch/wheel and lube them with something - all for the next time i come this way