How do you get the dang front axle c clip on? (1 Viewer)

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Apr 14, 2015
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Location
Tallahassee, FL
I've done this before but I don't remember how. I've got a bolt in the CV axle. I've got the clip and axle greased up. But I cannot get this thing on. What's the trick? I've searched but all the instructions I find say "then install the clip" without any detail.
 
I prefer using snap ring pliers and prying the C open and slide it on. Once you get part of the clip in the groove you can tap the rest of it home with a flat tipped screw driver and a mallet.
 
The right tool and copious quantities of expletives directed at the c-clip but not the LC. If you don't use bad language (good on you) try son-of-a-biscuit-eater, mother trucking son of a biscuit eater (and other variants), etc... If those are too rough for you try golly, gee, heck, gee whiz, golly gee, and, if its really bad, golly gee whiz...

But mostly it's just the right tool
 
I got it! I was using snap ring pliers but it took awhile to make it work. They're a lot harder to use without a couple holes to use. The slant cut on the clip opening made the clip want to pop off when there was pressure from the pliers.

Also I think I had to hold my tongue out of my mouth the right way and do the proper string of expletives/incantation.
 
I assume the problem is getting the axle shaft out far enough to get the c clip in the channel? If so, here's a quote from @PADDO that may help. Also, I used my wife as an extra puller to get that axle back out while I slipped the c clip on.

"The inside of the shaft is drilled and tapped, 8x1.25mm iirc, you can find suitable bolts under the hood to borrow and utilize. Last time I did this I grabbed a 50mm long 8x1.25 to use with a simple lever cross bar to pull the shaft home, slow steady force will squish the grease where it needs to go and get the shaft out."

Edit....Too late and solved the wrong problem... oh well.
 
I got it! I was using snap ring pliers but it took awhile to make it work. They're a lot harder to use without a couple holes to use. The slant cut on the clip opening made the clip want to pop off when there was pressure from the pliers.

Also I think I had to hold my tongue out of my mouth the right way and do the proper string of expletives/incantation.


Ah... Schrödinger's Land Cruiser, another little known interpretation of quantum mechanics says, post the problem on the forum and it will either solve itself or someone on the forum will solve it for you
 
I assume the problem is getting the axle shaft out far enough to get the c clip in the channel? If so, here's a quote from @PADDO that may help. Also, I used my wife as an extra puller to get that axle back out while I slipped the c clip on.

"The inside of the shaft is drilled and tapped, 8x1.25mm iirc, you can find suitable bolts under the hood to borrow and utilize. Last time I did this I grabbed a 50mm long 8x1.25 to use with a simple lever cross bar to pull the shaft home, slow steady force will squish the grease where it needs to go and get the shaft out."

Edit....Too late and solved the wrong problem... oh well.
I did get lucky, found the perfect ~10" long bolt that fit. I slipped a big shorty impact socket over it too to get some extra purchase with the third hand a grew just for this job.
 
Snap Ring Pliers.jpg
The C clip is really easy to remove and re-install with the correct type of snap ring pliers. It's not the "normal" kind with the needle tips for snap rings with holes.
 
Also, don't try to grab the C clip perpendicular to the clip itself, lay the snap ring pliers in line with snap ring and pry just then ends of the C clip, they'll open right up.

For visual, if you have a donut on the table (mmm donuts) that is your snap ring and the fork is your pliers, don't poke the donut down into the table, lay the fork on the table and poke the side of the donut. Clear as mud? Ih8mud
 
That's one of those seemingly obvious things that just never occurred to me.

Don't worry about it,there are a LOT more things on a cruiser to drive you nuts down the road! Hahah
 

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