1997 Ford Escort Replacing the L/F drive shaft

GRADYW

MEMBER
1997 FORD ESCORT

Drive Train Axles Bearings problem
1997 Ford Escort 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

This vehicle has 190,000 miles but is still in relatively good condition. The L/F CV shaft has failed, with part of the inner CV joint (the bearing cup) and the shaft still in the transmission. The clip on the shaft refuses to release. I have followed repair manual instructions and removed both the cross member and the ball joint to allow moving the strut out of the way.
The heavy duty pry bars I purchased will not do the trick. I drilled the cup on two sides, installed bolts, and have tried a slide hammer. Nothing seems to work. I have tried with the transmission both in park and in neutral, plus had someone help me slowly rotating the R/F wheel assembly slowly as I hammered. No luck!
Help! I refuse to give up but at this point I am completely out of ideas! I would tow the vehicle to a garage, but I'm not sure what they could do that I haven't done. Your suggestions - Please ...
Signed: Frustrated Grady

1 Reply

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

You may need to remove the differential cover lock pin, and push the axle back in, remove the circlip and remove the axle, the circlip probably deformed and is causing a hang up...the inner shaft of the axle goes into the side gear, and clip if deformed, wont let the shaft go back out of the gear... remove pin, and clip and pull axle.