[trailblazer2003]

I originally posted in the Liberty section, but am also posting here to get general info.

Quick question:

Can I remove the damaged cv joint from the passenger side until my parents can drive back to their mechanic? If possible, what is the simplest way to remove and plug any holes to reduce fluid loss.

ETA: if I can't remove the axle, can it be strapped/secured in place to reduce the loud thumping?

Thanks.

[TJJP77]

Well, you really can't remove the shaft without some leakage from the font axle...assuming the Liberty uses a unit bearing at the steering knuckle end, then there's nothing to leak there.

What you could do is this:

Remove the clevis bolt retaining the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle and free the lower control arm from the knuckle.

Remove the halfshaft retaining nut at the steering knuckle end.

Take the inner boot off (the diff end) the CV shaft and remove the circlip inside the lip of the inner CV joint housing that holds the cage and bearings in the housing.

Using the "slack" in the steering/suspension system created by freeing the lower control arm from the knuckle, you should now be able to pull the CV shaft from the vehicle.

Re-attach the lower ball joint and it should now be driveable.

What you'll end up with is the R/H axle/CV shaft will now just consist of the axle shaft portion with an empty CV housing. I think the R/H shaft is engaged to the differential with a snap ring (like a typical FWD car stub shaft) so it shouldn't come out. Be warned though that this arrangement may vibrate quite violently - I wouldn't be surprised if the whole front axle/axle shaft(s)/CV shaft(s) assembly is balanced as one unit when it's manufactured.

I would really suggest they get it fixed though vs. attempting this limp-home suggestion I offered - it's really only something I would try out on the trail or if I had a very short distance to go - certainly nowhere near 1000 miles, that's for sure. I'm not sure I'm clear as to why it can be fixed 1000 miles away but not near you???

Good luck!

[trailblazer2003]

Thanks for the through response TJ. The assembly was already destroyed. The steel balls were nonexistant, and about half the retaining ring is still attached to the axle. Needless to say the noise was pretty great!

As time was of the essence, we ended up biting the bullet and taking it to a shop. The reason for wanting to wait was their usual mechanics discounts are very generous. But the likelihood of further damage was greater if they waited.

Anyway, thanks for the help. Hopefully they will be back on the road tonight, my dad is a minister, so he kinda needs to be there on sunday.