How do you replace a CV joint in a 1991 Lincoln Continental?

Answer 1

This is most assuredly a question that cannot be easily answered on this forum. This task if extremely difficult, and unadvisable for anyone except a well trained mechanic in a repair shop environment. There are safety issues involved, as well as the need for lifting equipment and special tools. Take it to a Ford Service Shop. If you MUST do it yourself, invest in a shop repair manual specific to your vehicle, not the generic ones at parts houses.

THAT IS DEFINATELY A FORD/LINC EMPLOYEE...NO DOUBT...

FIRST, ON THE SIDE OF YOUR CAR AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE BODY (UMMM, CAR'S BODY) YOU WILL SEE A 1 INCH RIDGE THAT RUNS ALONG THE BOTTOM. THIS IS THE JACK SUPPORT POINT OF THE CAR.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE ON A LEVELED SURFACE AND THE PARKING BRAKES ARE APPLIED BY HERCULES HIMSELF, HINT HINT...
PLACE A FLOOR JACK THERE, LIFT THE CAR...
PLACE A JACKSTAND UNDER THE CAR CLOSE TO THE AREA THE FLOOR JACK IS IN (THIS IS A SAFETY PRECAUTION)...
HAVE SOMEONE PRESS AND HOLD THE BRAKES WHILE YOU REMOVE THE WHEEL...
IN THE CENTER OF THE HUB (THIS IS ALSO FROM YOUR VIEWPOINT, THE DISC AREA), YOU WILL SEE A VERY BIG NUT IN THE CENTER...
WITH A TORQUE RATCHET (NOT A TORQUE BAR) (APPROX. 40-60.00 USD), AND A 4 FOOT PIPE (USED AS A CHEATER BAR FOR THOSE OF US NOT BUILT LIKE ARNOLD),
REMOVE THE NUT..
NOW LOOK AROUND ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE DISC, AT THE BOTTOM YOU WILL SEE THE KNUCKLE (YOU MAY KNOW IT AS THE SPINLE) IS CONNECTED TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM...

PAY ATTENTENTION HERE...88-92 LINC USE A PINCH BOLT TO HOLD THE LOWER CONTROL ARM'S BALL JOINT TO THE KNUCLE, WHEREAS NEWER MAY HAVE A BALL JOINT W/A NUT AND COTTER PIN...

EITHER WAYTHIS MUST BE SEPERATED FROM THE KNUCLE...

IF USING PINCH BOLT, THEN WITH RATCHET OR WRENCH, REMOVE PINCH BOLT, IF NUT AND COTTER PIN, USE A PAIR OF DIAGONAL CUTTERS (DO NOT CUT) SIMPLY GET A GOOD GRIP AND TWIST OVER AND OVER UNTIL THE CTTER PIN IS OUT THEN REMOVE THE NUT...

WITH PINCH BOLT, USE A PRY BAR TO GENTLY POP THE BALL JOINT OUT OF SPINDLE...


WITH COTTER PIN TYPE, YOU NEED THE CORRECT SIZED PICKLE FORK, A.K.A., BALL JOINT SEPERATOR, AND A HEAVY MALLET (METAL HAMMER LIKE THE ONE THOR THE THUNDER GOD HAS), PLACE THE PICKLE FORK BETWEEN THE BALL JOINT AND KNUCKLE, REPEATEDLY HIT THE FORK INTO THE UNITS UNTIL POPPED OUT (PLEASE REMEMBER TO AIM AT THE FORK AND NOT YOUR KNUCLES, AFTER ALL, WE WANT TO SEPERATE THE CAR'S KNUCKLE, NOT YOURS)...

WHEN SEPERATED, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PUSH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM DOWNWARD....

AFTER THIS IS DONE, YOU WILL USE A 2BY4 PIECE OF WOOD ABOUT 12 INCHES LONG TO HOLD THE STRUT-KNUCKLE -DISC ASSEMBLY OUT OF THE WAY MOVING IT BACKWARD OR FORWARD AS NEEDED.

ONCE ABOVE IS OUT OF THE WAY, YOU WILL NEED A LONG WRENCH, 15/16 IN. SHOULD DO NICELY, UNDER THE CAR (I HOPE YOU PLACED A JACK STAND AS ADVISED, CUS YOUR CAR WEIGHS ABOUT 4000 LBS, AND YES IT WILL HURT) LOCATE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE AXLE.

BETWEEN THE TRANS. AND THE AXLE YOU WILL FIT THE WRENCH, AND ONCE BETWEEN IT YOU WILL PRY GENTLY IN A OUTWARD DIRECTION.

A FEW TRIES MAY BE NEEDED BUT THE AXLE WILL POP OUT.

REMEMBER DO NOT OPERATE ANY PART OF THE CAR, I.E., DO NOT START, DO NOT SHIFT THE TRANS.
REASON IS IF YOU DO, YOU WILL BE TOWING YOUR CAR TO A TRANS SHOP TO REALIGNE THE SPLINE SHAFTS, YES, LOTS OF MONEY...

OK, NOW YOU CAN PULL OUT THE AXLE.


PEP BOYS HAS REBUILTS FOR 99.00 USD. THIS WOULD BE A GOOD CHOICE FOR YOU, CUS TRUST ME, YOU DONT WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO REBUILD IT YOURSELF...

IM NICE ENOUGH TO TELL YOU HOW TO REMOVE THE AXLE ON YOUR OWN, BE SMART AND BUY A REBUILT AXLE, THE AMOUNT YOU WILL SAVE PENDING A MISTAKE, IS 6000.00 USD ON A TRANSAXLE THAT MIGHT BE OBSLOLETE...

NOW, WITH REPLACEMENT AXLE IN HAND, GENTLE SLIDE IT IN TO HOLE IT CAME OUT OF (DO NOT TURN THE AXLE AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON)...
WHEN EXAMINED, THE SPACE BETWEEN THE AXLE AND THE TRANS WIL BE NO MORE THAN A 1/4 IN. DIFFERENCE.

AT THIS TIME, YOU WILL SLIDE IT OUT ABOUT 2-5 MM, AND THE AS HARD AS YOU CAN, PUSH THE AXLE INTO THE HOLE (YOU WILL FEEL THE AXLE "CLICK"INTO PLACE)...
ONCE YOU HAVE IT IN, THEN REASSEMBLE THE PARTS...

REMEMBER, NEW COTTER PINS/PINCH BOLTS AND NUTS, NEW AXLE NUT...

PLEASE REMBER THAT, FAILURE MEANS YOU WILL BE CALLING ME FOR A TOW HOME, HEHEHE...

IF DONE CORRECTLY, YOU ARE ARE NOW FINISHED....


BY THE WAY, IF FORD WOULD DO THEIR JOBS RIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE, YOUR CAR WOULDNT BE IN THIS SITUATION...