CV axle replacement

1994 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER
215,000 MILES • 3.3L • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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PATRICK GREENE2
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I'm trying to replace the CV axle on the passenger side of the vehicle but I can't get it to lock into the transmission . The old axle that I took out came out by hand I didn't even have to pry it and it doesn't have snap ring on the end of it either so I guess the question is, do they have a snap ring that locks them into the transmission?
Mar 9, 2020 at 12:52 PM
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CARADIODOC
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Nope. There's a spring inside the inner CV joint that keeps pressure on it to push it into the transmission. The joint will pop into place when you get the splines lined up just right.

Most replacement inner joints and complete axles come with a new wire ring at the end of the splines that seems to be made of larger diameter wire than the originals. Might be my imagination, but I've had better luck reusing the old wire ring on the new inner joint. Pry them off with a small flat-blade screwdriver, then squeeze the old one to a smaller diameter, then press it into place on the new joint. Once the splines are started, wiggle the shaft up and down and sideways to coax the ring to slide into place.

(My daily driver is a 1994 Grand Voyager. Just finished replacing the brush assembly in the alternator a few hours ago. Now I can drive my rust bucket again and let my newer Ram sit and stay like new).
Mar 9, 2020 at 1:05 PM