How to put the half shaft back in?

[heryrg]

Hi guys,
I'm replacing the front half shafts and having trouble pushing them back in i don't have any special tools. How can i do this? Here is the pic.

[dlb]

if you don't have a plastic- or rubber-faced hammer, you can get away with using a regular hammer and a piece of lumber. hold the axle so it's straight and then hold the lumber against the outboard end of it. give it a few solid whacks. you'll hear it when the inboard end is fully inserted. you have to hit with some force but don't overdo it, obvs.

[ARCHINSTL]

Is this an EMPI axle? The GSP and OE have large "ridges" near the trans end against which one can insert a sturdy screwdriver or bar and "impact away."
Note - I did have (an unrealized) difficulty fully seating one GSP axle, resulting in a leak undetected for almost a year. Upon examining, the axle was ever-so-slightly oversized. See https://tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtopic.php? ... ery#p44807
Although in retrospect, I have a feeling the trans carrier was "not quite right," rather than the shaft...
Tom M.

[heryrg]

it's EMPI so no ridges on anything. i just did what david said, thanks.
Now i'm trying to take out the strut cartridge, can't take off the top plate. i don't have a full size vise so its hard to unscrew the holding plate. any suggestions?

[ARCHINSTL]

Uhhh - please don't take this the wrong way, but - you ARE using a spring compressor to compress the spring before attempting to remove the cap - right?
Check the FSM and various threads in the Repair Guides Forum. While the FSM shows the bottom of the strut being held in a vise, while convenient, it is not necessary - well, when using a clamshell-type compressor anyway. I have no personal experience with the suicide sticks.
Tom M.

[heryrg]

Thanks Tom. I AM using spring compressors
I tried holding it in a vice and twisting it off with a plumbers wrench. No good. I think i might get a wrench in that size like 40mm or something, if i find one.

[Highlander]

I've always used channel-lock type pliers to get the top cover off (you are talking about the large nut that holds the strut insert into the tube, right?) they're easier to slip in between the spring coils than an adjustable. A vise is REALLY helpful as it will take quite a bit of torque to get the nut started off. whatever you do, DON'T crush the tube.

[keith]

I used two pipe wrenches. Here is my odyssey.

https://tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2776