How do you change the front axle on a 1991 Honda Civic?

Answer 1

Remove the axle nut and disconnect the lower ball joint. The axle is a plug in style axle and can be pursuaded to come out by wedging a screw driver in between the axle and the transmission and prying it out. To put it in get it all together except the lower ball joint and use the steering knuckle as a handle of sorts to seat the axle all the way home in the transmission. once in put it all back together. In some cases the y fork of the strut must also be disconnected from the lower control arm to allow the axle to come away from the car.

1) Due to overzealousness most axle nuts on these are WAY overtight

recommend a 3/4" drive ratchet-Breaker Bar and Honda states 32mm socket however an American Standard 1 1/4 fits even better --by a mm basically .

2) Have a decent heat source handy --torch --to get the nut Albeit Red hot before lossening & PB Blaster to spray in between removal attempts

3) replacement axle nuts are usually around 4 dollars a piece from an autoparts store --so CAREFULLY cutting off a seized nut --as to not damage the threading is possible but takes a Skilled touch

4) Just a note --1/2" breaker bars and ratchets are easily broken performing this task due to Cast steel instead of OLD American Forged Steel ---Cast is basically Non American --however even Craftsman and Kobalt(Lowes) brand

supposedly Made in America are using Cast Steel drives --So good luck

Buy a 3/4 breaker and socket @ Napa for Approx 30 dollars ---might be made in Taiwan but it should hold up where 1/2" used to