I'm going to agree with the expert! Especially if you have heard clicking or noise to indicate the joint could be going bad, it's easier to just replace the whole shaft.
Make sure you have the right tools--I just did mine on my 91 corolla and I'm guessing it should be the same for the 90 year. You'll need to remove the cotter pin washer and axle nut (which is a 30mm socket, I believe), your tie rod end (another cotter pin and anywhere from a 17 to 19 mm socket for the nut, plus a tie rod separator or you could just pound it up with a hammer), and the 2 nuts and 1 bolt holding on your ball joint (17 mm on mine) to the control arm. Then separate the ball joint from the control arm. Use one of those fancy puller-type things to press out the end of the axle shaft from the center/hub (or use a hammer to pound it out). Pull the strut/brakes away (be careful of brake hoses) and to the side. Then have a nice big crowbar handy to pry that shaft from the tranny! That was the worst part for me! It never just "pops right out!"
Be sure to pound that new axle into the tranny so it doesn't pop half out like mine (I swear it was in there but...)!
Put it all back together...
Good luck!
Here's a pic with the shaft out, the tie rod out; the ball joint is separated but you can't see it here.
Thursday, June 11th, 2009 AT 7:53 AM
