My drive axle is leaking and won't stay in

Tiny
RALPH PATTERSON
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 140,000 MILES
Installed new left side drive axle. While driving, it popped out. I re-installed the drive axle and it popped out again, but now when I put in drive, it does not move and there is an awful sound coming from the location where the drive axle connects to the engine. The front left wheel hub bearing locked up causing damage to drive axle. So I replaced drive axle but did not replace the inner seal. Started to see a leak. So I pulled the drive axle out and replace the seal which stopped the leak. Days later, the drive axle popped out, so I re-installed the shaft and it popped in. It popped out again, but now when I tighten the hub nut it pulls the shaft away from the trans axle. I popped it back in and put the car in drive and it did not move but now I hear an awful noise where the shaft connects to the trans axle. Do I need to replace the drive axle again because I screwed up?
Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 AT 10:19 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
It sounds like the axle is too short did you compare the old axle length to the new axle?You said the axle pulls out the transmission when tightening down the axle nut sounds sounds like the axle is too short.
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Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 AT 10:25 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
You sure its fully stabbed in and C-clip is locking it in-My advise is take it back out and investigate tranny side and make sure you preload the bearing than torque it to specs
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Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 AT 10:28 PM
Tiny
RALPH PATTERSON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I did compare the two drave axles, and the looked to be the same size. I did not compare the spline length on either end. I did notice some metal shavings around the spline of the driveaxle and inside the transaxle. Not sure where it came from.
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Sunday, December 11th, 2011 AT 1:01 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
The shavings came from when the axle wasnt spining on the outside of the transmission while it was in drive. When the axle wasnt far enough inside the transmission all the way. Hopefully it do any damage to the transmission. If the old axle the same length etc worked makes no sense why this new axle the same length etc wouldnt. Something is different or something has changed.
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Sunday, December 11th, 2011 AT 1:10 AM

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