Replacing the CV Shafts

[jeremy96gase]

Hello everyone, You'all have a great forum here.

Just wanted to tell you about the ordeal I've had ordering Half Shafts for my 95 Geo Metro 3 door, 1.3L, Auto, non-abs.

First thing I did was go to Schuck's, a mile from my hosue, and order the non-abs ones, because, at the time, I was only pretty sure the car doesn't have ABS. A week later they show up, and I take the car apart that weekend. Took the passenger side axle out, and compared it to the new one only to find the new one is an inch too short, and has a strange cog. Later, I found out the Cog is for the ABS sensor.
Took them back, to Schuck's, and had them order another set. Got them took them home, and they where still the wrong ones . Got a refund.

Last Sunday, went to Napa, that's less than a mile from my house, and ordered the non-abs half shafts. Two days later, today received them and took them home. Then, after the store closed I realized they where the ABS ones .
Tonight, I went to the Napa warehouse 15 miles from my house (sense it was still open). The guy at the warehouse told me he could only order the ones I had, and I couldn't return them there because they where special order.

Now my choices where narrowed down to Autozone and Joe's. Went to the Autozone 4 miles from my house. Found out Autozone keeps new ones in stock all the time. I was able to verify the part was correct without ordering it . One of them had a dent a thin metal part so the ordered one from another store, it and it'll be in tomorrow.

So Tomorrow: Pick up the other Autozone part, and return the Napa ones.

Costs
Schuck's : $65 (new) each for the first set, and $104 each (new) for a different the second set.
Napa : $80 each (new) plus $10 shipping (they didn't tell me he was charging me for shipping).
Autozone : $60 each (new)

CV Shaft Lengths for my car
New Passenger : 3feet
New Driver : 1foot 11 1/2inches

Notes
*ABS Shafts have a cog on the outboard side that connects to the ABS sensor.

Recap
Buy from Autozone, they have parts at the best price, and have them in-stock or can get them next day.

[Johnny Mullet]

Thanks for the informative post!

[Chris Adams]

Interesting tidbit on 95 Metro half-shafts.
I'm not sure why but some of the 95 4 cyl (at least) have a different shaft than others.
This is on the passenger side.
The driver’s side all seem the same but on some the shaft goes from the transaxle to the hub straight, one long piece, on others the shaft has an intermediate shaft that goes from the transaxle to a 'block' then the actual half-shaft goes from the block to the hub.

I got the wrong part once.
Before buying, take a long look at the length of the passenger shaft.

If you have the 'block' one the shaft is lots shorter, of course.
Both are easy enough to change. The block is held on by 3 bolts to the engine.

[jeremy96gase]

I completed this project a while ago with the Autozone parts, and I had a few things wrong .

Shaft Length correction
The Autozone shafts where the same length out of the box as the Schuck's and Napa ones.
When the new shafts are installed the joints extend. This accounts for the extra length in the old shafts, because the old shafts do not bounce back.

Non-ABS vs ABS shafts correction
As I said before the ABS shafts have a Cog, that hooks to the ABS sensor.
On the Non-ABS specific shafts there is a round sheet metal ring in place of the ABS Sensor that takes up the same area, but it's not as thick at the top.
The ABS shafts will work on Non-ABS cars. Really the only difference is the ABS cog will weigh slightly more than the sheet metal ring.

Over the past 6 months I've learned a lot about this little car, automotive maintenance, and general automotive repair. Can't be right all the time.

I should have just keep the first Shucks part and installed it. The "Cardone" brand is likely a higher quality peace than the Autozone branded shafts. But that's okay, they should last at least another 80k miles.

Recap
The auto parts guys knew more about these parts than I did.

[jeremy96gase]

Time to update the drama for my little Geo.

Last night my Mom was driving the Geo home from work, while rolling up to a stop light she heard a thud "Like a rock dropping". She gave it more gas, but it started to roll back (on a slight hill), and she bumped in to a Gal in a old Chrysler Minivan (both rubber bumpers woot). No damage, no one hurt.

After this happened Mom called Me, and the lady in the Van called the cops (just in case).
Luckily, I was a home on the other side of town, and hurried over there to help. I got there before the police (surprisingly). The cop took statements, and we rolled the car in to the parking lot just off the road.
After standing in the cold for a 30-45min, all the paperwork was done, and we headed on our separate ways.

So the car.
When putting it in to gear the transmission and engine would engage and rock (like normal), but no power was being sent to the wheels.
I couldn't figure out what was going on until we returned to the car with a flash light.
Turns out the Drivers side axle failed at the joint on the transmission side. So it was just hanging down.
I don't think I did anything wrong during the installation, but I guess we'll see.

Hopefully, I can find the receipt, and return/exchange it this weekend and fix it. Unfortunately, it's suppose to be in the 20's-30's F all weekend so I'll have to do it in the Garage (hurray for small cars that fit in my small garage).

Originally Posted by jeremy96gase

I should have just keep the first Shucks part and installed it. The "Cardone" brand is likely a higher quality peace than the Autozone branded shafts.

Now I really wish I would have done this.

[jeremy96gase]

More Drama. I'm felling quite the Diva.

The Steal Ring that holds the axle in to the transmission will not compress to let the axle go. It should just take a quick pop of a breaker bar (that's what I did last time, and that's what the Chiltons manual says), but not dice.

I'll get a hold of Aamco tomorrow, and see what they say. I may have to pay someone to fix this

[Chris Adams]

Originally Posted by jeremy96gase

More Drama. I'm felling quite the Diva.

The Steal Ring that holds the axle in to the transmission will not compress to let the axle go. It should just take a quick pop of a breaker bar (that's what I did last time, and that's what the Chiltons manual says), but not dice.

I'll get a hold of Aamco tomorrow, and see what they say. I may have to pay someone to fix this

I've had to hit the joint with a pretty heavy hammer to get them to pop out. Not unusual to need a BIG pry bar, ar wedge. On a Kia once I had to use a pickle fork as a wedge and smack it in with a 3lb hammer.
Sometimes the steel locking ring is expanded too far.

[jeremy96gase]

We worked it over quite well. The transmission case has the scars to show for it, as does my bisep from when the bar slipped and I rammed it in to the brake disk.
First tried a 24" prybar. Whent that didn't work I went to the hardware store, and got a 30" wrecking bar. Also tried to wedge it out with a cold chisle and 2lb hammer.

[Chris Adams]

A lot depends on just how you hit it. I'm not the best at it, but I've had a buddy (full line mechanic, all models) come over and knock them loose. He hits the heavy part just right, very hard, and they always pop out. He recomends against any prying, because he works in shops where marks on the tranny makes for angry customers.
Very hard sharp strike at the right point. Maybe you can get a local mechanic to pop it out for a few bucks. Don't know if you don't ask at any nearby shops.
Best of luck.

[miami man]

on my other cars i have a friend that ownes a repair garage and for $50.00 cash and i buy the part i have him install the half shaft. no fuss because he uses a lift.