4wd system

jin760jin760 Band Wagon
in Engine & Drivetrain
Hey guys,

So I been having some problems with the rear diff and mounts, its been making all kinds of noises when going in reverse and it vibrates from 30-50mph.
I filled my rear diff mount and added the coilover bump mounts to the rear diff to keep it from moving. It helped with the big "thug" noise.

I looked at my drive shaft and it looks like the rear U joints are worn out and they have some play, so I decided to remove the 4wd system while I fix it, since the wagon is my daily I cannot afford to have it down for too long.
I came across a problem I cannot remove the rear axles, I currently having them hanging with the axle nut off but I cannot remove them.

I was reading that I need to have them pressed out, is there another way around this? Can i just rip the boot and remove the axle by leaving the outer part of the axle still in place?

Thanks

Comments

  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    The axles don't need to be pressed out. They come out just like the fronts. Spray some penetrant around them and give them a whack.
  • 1991 civic wagon1991 civic wagon Band Wagon
    Yes a little pry action is all that is needed. There is only a small C washer holding it into the transmission / diff. Prying a bit with a wedge works well. Even a large flat screw driver or a pry bar works fine. Just be careful around the boot / diff if you want to reuse the axle.

    More pictures here:
    http://imgur.com/a/uMvzt

    198.jpg
  • jin760jin760 Band Wagon
    The axles are out of the rear diff, I just cant seem to take them out of the rear drum. I removed the rear axle nut and sprayed it with penetrating oil and tried hammering them but they do not move one bit.

    These are the rear ones... I have them hanging at the moment bc I cannot remove them from the trailing arm
  • jin760jin760 Band Wagon
    199.jpg

    200.jpg

    I tried hammering the axle but it doesn't move, I was reading online and theres people that say they need to be pressed out or something like that, but this does not make sense because this would not be practical.

    Does any one know if the axle can just be hammered out or do I have to press them out?

    I don't want to continue hammering if the axle needs to be pressed out, if this is the case I think I can just remove the boot and pull the axle out without removing the outer cv part of the axle. I can just leave the outer part of the axle on the trailing arm.

    What do you guys suggest I do?
  • 1991 civic wagon1991 civic wagon Band Wagon
    On the same page now. A 3 jaw puller will push these out. It looks like you are doing damage with the threads by beating on it with a hammer. The puller is cheap from Harbor Freight or could be borrowed for free from Auto Zone, ect.
  • jin760jin760 Band Wagon
    1991 civic wagon wrote: »
    On the same page now. A 3 jaw puller will push these out. It looks like you are doing damage with the threads by beating on it with a hammer. The puller is cheap from Harbor Freight or could be borrowed for free from Auto Zone, ect.

    Thanks for the suggestion, I will rent that tool tomorrow and try that out.
  • 503-Hill-Billy503-Hill-Billy Wagonist
    Def go slow and take your time those axles suck to get a hold of if you damage them.
  • AbideAbide Council Member
    i used a giant brass punch and a dead blow on mine.
  • JaudetteJaudette Wagonist
    i use my airhammer, put the bit in the indentation where it was run on the lathe and give her hell
  • jin760jin760 Band Wagon
    hey guys,

    I was able to get the axles out. The passenger was easy with the 3 jaw puller. The driver side was a different story. I broke trying to get the axle out. I ended up buying a sledge hammer and using a big punch I was able to hammer it out. I also used the penetrating oil in the process.
  • dove grey 64dove grey 64 Wagonist
    Good to see it worked out for you. Next time leave a nut on the threaded part, less chance of damaging the thread.
    Also use some anti seize grease when refitting ;)
  • 1991 civic wagon1991 civic wagon Band Wagon
    Did that sort out your noises? What does the reverse noise sound like?
  • jin760jin760 Band Wagon
    1991 civic wagon wrote: »
    Did that sort out your noises? What does the reverse noise sound like?



    yes it did, after taking everything of I notice that the U joint near the rear diff was shot. The ends had play, so what was happening was that the part that the U joint holds at the end of the drive shaft was rubbing with the drive shaft.

    I will try and post some pics for u.
  • jin760jin760 Band Wagon
    Now, the problem that I came across after removing the 4wd system is that my rear wheel bearings started making a whining noise, after two days of normal driving.
    I believe that this happened because I removed the rear axles and just let the hub open. Meaning there was no axle with axle nut holding the hub a wheel bearing.

    Let me know if that was the cause of the wheel bearing failing?

    So what I did after it was too late was I bought a bolt, two washers and nut to simulate a axle and nut in the rear hub. Meaning that the bolt and the two washers help sandwich the hub and wheel bearing.

    Has anyone had this problem with the rear wheel bearings going out after removing the 4wd system and leaving the rear hub open like I did in the beginning?

    Thanks guys
  • 1991 civic wagon1991 civic wagon Band Wagon
    jin760 wrote: »
    yes it did, after taking everything of I notice that the U joint near the rear diff was shot. The ends had play, so what was happening was that the part that the U joint holds at the end of the drive shaft was rubbing with the drive shaft.

    I will try and post some pics for u.


    Thank you. That would be helpful. What did the reverse sound like with the damaged U joint?
  • jin760jin760 Band Wagon
    It would back a screeching sound when I was going in reverse and then a big thump when I went forward(right after going in reverse).
  • jin760jin760 Band Wagon
    Hey guys,

    So after removing the rear diff and axles my rear wheel bearings gave out. There is a lot of play. Do all civic wagon rear bearings the same or do I have to get rt4wd. Does anyone have a part number for it? Also to avoid from future rear wheel bearings going out what do you guys do when the rear axles are remove from the hub? ( I remove the 4wd system because of bad u-joint) I tried using a bolt and washers to hold the hub and wheel bearing in place but did not help, any recommendations?

    To remove the rear wheel bearing from my rt wagon I must get it press out right? Has anyone done a rear wheel bearing on a rt model wagon? any suggestions?
  • jin760jin760 Band Wagon
    These are pics of the washer and bolt trick I tried using:

    Back side:

    39.jpg

    Front side:

    40.jpg


    Video of the wheel bearings:


    http://vid149.photobucket.com/albums/s54/keller-101/VID_20140804_190705_5781.mp4


    http://vid149.photobucket.com/albums/s54/keller-101/VID_20140804_190645_1951.mp4
  • klumklum Senior Wagonist
    i couldnt get my axles out the rta either haha i just dropped the diff - i had vibrations that started around 40 mph it turned out to be a dif stud was ripped out check those out- i did the same thing with the diff thud fix and this was still a issue
  • jin760jin760 Band Wagon
    klum wrote: »
    i couldnt get my axles out the rta either haha i just dropped the diff - i had vibrations that started around 40 mph it turned out to be a dif stud was ripped out check those out- i did the same thing with the diff thud fix and this was still a issue


    I found the problem to be a worn out u-joint. I was able to take my axles of and everything. The problem now is that My rear wheel bearings went out causing the rear hub to move dangerously. If you look at the two videos I posted the bearings sound nasty and the moves a lot. It has play in the hub.

    I want to know if I need to replace just the bearing or hub and bearing? And do I have to get the bearing press out?

    After replacing the bearing what are my options so that this doesn't happen again? I do not have the rear axles installed because I removed the 4wd system. This means I dont have the rear axle holding the hub and bearing in place. What do you guys recommend I do?
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    You need at least the outer axle stub with nut torqued on it to retain the bearings.

    Yes, I believe the bearings would be best changed with a press.
  • jin760jin760 Band Wagon
    bam-bam wrote: »
    You need at least the outer axle stub with nut torqued on it to retain the bearings.

    Yes, I believe the bearings would be best changed with a press.

    What I notice when I removed the rear axles is that the the outer cv part of the axle does not want to come off the shaft. Even after removing the outer cv boot. I will try and post some pictures.

    That was the reason I tried using a nut, bolt, and washers.
  • Madr0xMadr0x New Wagonist
    I had the rear bearings replaced in my old wagon. I dont recall a part number but a guy found them at a local NAPA auto. They will need pressed I believe and you will need to remove both rear trailing arms. I suggest you soak all the hardware now especially those torex or whatever they are bolts.

    Unfortunately I had to sell my wagon a month or two after replacing the bearings so im not sure how the replacements held but they are out there. You have to do some searching.
  • snowbrdsnowbrd Wagonist
    Rear bearing are exactly the same like front!
  • 503-Hill-Billy503-Hill-Billy Wagonist
    I had mine replaced and they also needed to be pressed out.
  • jin760jin760 Band Wagon
    Im in the process of getting them press out and getting the new ones press in. My question is that I dont think I am going to put the 4wd drive train back in just yet. This means that I wont have the axles there in place to hold the hub in place.

    What do you guys recommend I use or do? Would a bolt, nut and two big washers work in place of the axles?
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