How do you replace drive shaft on 2000 Mazda 626 LX?

Answer 1

Steps for the (slightly above) average do-it-yourself mechanicWith tire still mounted, lift car, leave tire touching groundLoosen spindle nut

• Pry tab from the safety slot first (half-shaft kits will have a replacement nut)
• Use breaker bar and turn spindle nut (loosen only)
• It is helpful to apply force with foot on the breaker bar

Loosen lug nuts, lift car, remove lug nuts and tireRemove brake caliper

• Using pliers, remove brake hose clip closest to steering knuckle and slide hose out of bracket
• Using star wrench, remove bottom bolt of caliper
• Rotate up and pull entire caliper off top pin
• Use coat hanger to suspend caliper from strut spring being careful with brake hose

Remove brake pad assembly from steering knuckleRemove rotorRemove spindle nut from outside of axleRemove tie rod end from steering knuckle

• remove cotter pin
• tie rod end puller works best
• tie rod fork not recommended since it can damage the rubber grease seal
• alternate method is to loosen the nut down to the end of the threads and use a rubber mallet to bang the nut up forcing the tie rod out of the steering knuckle (professionals will frown on this)

Remove bottom of link connecting stablizer to lower control arm

• To prevent it from spinning while loosening the nut, insert Allen wrench into threaded end to retain it (grease may fill the hole making it difficult to see)

Remove bolts securing steering knuckle to strutRemove bolt securing steering knuckle to ball joint of lower control armRemove steering knuckle

• pull up off of lower control arm (should just slide up)
• pull out from axle (may require a hammer tap on end of axle to free it)

Remove axle ("half shaft") from transmission

• driver side: use pry bar between inner CV joint and transmission to pop shaft out
• passenger side: use hammer to knock inner CV joint from intermediate shaft (not necessary to remove intermediate shaft)
• the retainer clip holding the axle in the transmission makes this difficult. It will require more force than you expect

Insert new shaft

• this will require some force due to the retention clips, but they will pop in

Reassemble in reverse orderBrake piston will need to be compressed with ac-clamp before rotating down over brake pads

If tie rod ball joint spins while tightening nut, apply force with hand to top of ball joint while tightening

Complete final tightening of spindle nut with tire on and touching ground