INNER DRIVER BUSHING REMOVAL
Thanks to Scootertrash for contributing to this FAQ!
| STEP 1 | To start you need to go to the FAQ for CV Boot and Joint Replacement and do this first. This job is not for the faint hearted. We have been working on a tool for a while now to simply remove this bushing from the differential but the tools break consistently so one is not really available yet. The problem is that in certain climates that allow for more wheel slip the differential bushings get worn out which causes wobble on the inner driver causing vibration issues. The information kindly offered by Jeff will help you cut out this bushing from the differential instead of having to remove and tear down the entire transmission |
| STEP 2 | I found it very hard to pull out the inner driver and after talking to the local transmission shop I was told it's just a cir clip that holds it in but not to pry on the case as it is very thin and can crack if pried on. I used a tie down strap with a ratch and wrapped it around the inner driver and the strut after reattaching it to the control arm and ratcheted away until it popped right out. (PICT151) |
| STEP 3 | Once the Inner Driver is removed and the seal plate is removed this is what you are looking at |
| STEP 4 | I used a Sawzall to make cuts on the top and bottom of the bushing and initially it seemed like the cutting was going fast, the 24 tooth metal cutting blade made some nice deep cuts within 10 minutes but after that it seemed like no progress. I got out my Dremmil with a tungsten metal cutting tip and started running it down the grooves that the Sawzall made. I could actually feel the step up from the differential to the bushing and just worked my way to the back edge of the bushing on both grooves until the bushing fell apart with no effort |
| STEP 5 | Next is the installation of the new bushing. I cold soaked the new busing in dry ice for several hours to get some shrinkage and hopefully an easier fit to start with. (be careful handling the bushing after taking it out of the dry ice) I used a small pair of channel locks to hold it while I tapped it into the differential |
| STEP 6 | Once it was started, I used the old inner driver and a pipe to drive the bushing into the ifferenctial. (Make sure you remove the cir clip from the old inner driver before using the inner driver to pound in the bushing) I put the pipe in the middle of the inner driver and pounded away until there was still about 1/32 of the bushing still protruding from the drfferential. I realized the bushing needed to be flush for proper lubrication of the inner driver. I went to the local ACE Hardware store and found some washers that fit perfectly around the inner driver shaft and after a few more hits on the old inner driver with the washers on it, the bushing was flush |
| STEP 7 | I installed the oil seal in the seal plate with a vice and some wood pieces cut to size and pressed the new seal in place. Reinstalled the seal plate, pressed the new inner driver in place with the cir clip installed on it, and reassembled the front strut. I flushed the gearbox to remove any metal debris from the cutting, the Sawzall makes fine metal chips and the Dremmil makes fine hair like shavings |
Pricing for 93 98-03 Inner Driver Kits (Cv Joints & Related)