Can someone please give me some step by step instructions on how to change the front left cv axle on my ‘95 mazda 626? Thanks!!
All you have to do is take out all the bolts and the axle will slip out.
The Mazda engines are hard to kill, as is their stick shift; the automatic transmissions are a weak point, though I never had one fail on me with through two 626 models. If you keep up with fluid changes -- don't go past 20-30k -- even the ATs will hold up.
Remove wheel and tire. Remove nut from axle. Next remove the nut frome the tie rod end where it connects to the spindle. Remove tie rod end from spindle. Next remove nut from lower ball joint, pry down on lower control arm to remove ball joint stud from spindle. Now gently tap the end of the axle with a brass hammer while pulling out on spindle and strut assembly, the end of the axle should slide out of the hub. Swing the spindle and strut assembly to the side out of the way. Next with a pry bar, pop the axle out of the trans-axle. May be kind of tough. When it pops out, remove it from vehicle and install a new one. The new one should slide in the trans-axle and lock in place with a snap ring already installed on the end of the new shaft. DO NOT pull on the end of the new shaft because it will dislocate the joints. Swing the spindle and strut assembly around and put the end of the shaft back through the hub by lining up the splines on the hub and the axle. Pry down on the lower control arm and reinstall ball joint stud into spindle and reinstall nut. Reinstall tie rod end into spindle and reinstall nut. Install new nut on axle shaft (should have came with a new one) and also be sure to reinstall all cotter pins where removed. Reinstall wheel and tire and your ready to go.
