How do you take out a drive axle on a Dodge Caravan?

Answer 1

First pull off the hubcap and notice the large diameter nut in the center of the wheel. It will have a cotter pin in it. Remove the cotter pin and loosen this nut. Next loosen the lug nuts and raise and support the front of the vehicle. Pull off the tire, remove the nut from the bottom of the tie rod and the bolt from the topside of the lower ball joint. Next use a ball joint separator, commonly called a pickle fork to remove the tie rod from the spindle and to separate the ball joint from the spindle. go ahead and remove the axle nut that you loosened in the first step. Using a prybar, pry the lower control arm down, this will free the ball joint from the socket. Pull the spindle/brake rotor assy towards you and the end of the axle should slide out of it. If not a little careful persuasion with a rubber mallet might be in order. Next using two prybars one on each side, pry the axle from the transmission. One prybar wont work because it puts it on a bind. Install is exactly reverse of these steps.

Side notes:

-Before you put the new axle into the tranny, lube it with tranny fluid on the splines

-take special care not to tear the boots on new shaft

-Your van probably takes ATF+3, anything else will shorten the life of the tranny

-use a drain pan under shaft when removing it on the tranny end

-torque the axle nut and lug nuts so you don't warp your rotors First pull off the hubcap and notice the large diameter nut in the center of the wheel. It will have a cotter pin in it. Remove the cotter pin and loosen this nut. Next loosen the lug nuts and raise and support the front of the vehicle. Pull off the tire, remove the nut from the bottom of the tie rod and the bolt from the topside of the lower ball joint. Next use a ball joint separator, commonly called a pickle fork to remove the tie rod from the spindle and to separate the ball joint from the spindle. go ahead and remove the axle nut that you loosened in the first step. Using a prybar, pry the lower control arm down, this will free the ball joint from the socket. Pull the spindle/brake rotor assy towards you and the end of the axle should slide out of it. If not a little careful persuasion with a rubber mallet might be in order. Next using two prybars one on each side, pry the axle from the transmission. One prybar wont work because it puts it on a bind. Install is exactly reverse of these steps.

Side notes:

-Before you put the new axle into the tranny, lube it with tranny fluid on the splines

-take special care not to tear the boots on new shaft

-Your van probably takes ATF+3, anything else will shorten the life of the tranny

-use a drain pan under shaft when removing it on the tranny end

-torque the axle nut and lug nuts so you dont warp your rotors

-change the axle seal while you're in there

-top off tranny fluid after vehicle has warmed up

This all sounds like a lot of work, but it can be done in 30 minutes or less.