How to Replace CV Axles in a Toyota Tercel

A bad CV axle in a Toyota Tercel will result in a prominent noise emitting from the damaged axle. During turns, it will sound like the crinkling noise of an aluminum can. This will indicate that the bearing joint of the axle has been compromised, and if not addressed, it can lead to more serious axle damage, including separation of the joint bearing from the knuckle.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Car lift
• 1/2-inch drive impact gun
• 1/2-inch drive impact metric socket set
• 1/2-inch drive impact 30 mm socket
• Needle-nose pliers
• Hammer
• Block of wood
• Metric box end wrench set
• Large pry bar
• Bungee cord
• Drain bucket

1. • 1

     Lift the Tercel on a car lift to a comfortable position to work on.

   • 2

     Remove the hub cap. Remove the lug nuts with the impact gun and a socket, then remove the wheel.

   • 3

     Remove the cotter pin (if applicable) from the spindle of the CV axle, then remove the hub nut cover to expose the hub nut.

   • 4

     Remove the hub nut using the impact gun and the 30 mm impact socket. (The size of the hub nut may vary depending on the car's year and place of manufacture.)

   • 5

     Remove the cotter pin from the outer tie rod end connection to the steering knuckle, then remove the castle nut using the gun and a socket.

   • 6

     Remove the lower ball joint nut holding it to the lower control arm.

   • 7

     Separate the outer tie rod end connection to the knuckle by striking the knuckle end with a hammer (without damaging the outer tie rod end).

   • 8

     Separate the lower ball joint to lower the control arm connection. Use a hammer and large pry bar for this operation. Use the hammer on the lower control arm only while prying downward, until the lower control arm separates from the ball joint.

   • 9

     Place the block of wood on the end of the spindle of the CV axle, and tap on the wood with the hammer until the splines of the CV axle are separated from the knuckle.

   • 10

     Swing the knuckle assembly outward away from the CV axle spindle, and support the knuckle assembly to the chassis using a bungee cord.

   • 11

     Lift the Tercel upward on the lift and locate the inner CV axle to differential connection. If the outer flange of the CV axle connection is bolted to the differential housing, remove the bolts using a box end wrench.

   • 12

     Place a drain bucket below the area of the inner CV axle to differential connection to catch any fluid leaking from the transaxle once the CV axle is removed. Pry the CV axle from the differential using a large pry bar. There is a C-ring on the inside spline of the CV axle that locks/clips into the transaxle--it needs to be pried outward.

   • 13

     Remove the CV axle. To replace the CV axle, reverse the order of the procedure. Be sure to fill the differential up with the appropriate fluid. Refer to the owner's manual for fluid specifications.

Tips & Warnings

• In some Tercel models, removing the left axle will require removing the right axle first, then pushing the left axle outward from the center of the transaxle with a large screwdriver. Place a bar or screwdriver into each side of the differential to prevent the side gears from slipping out of position.