Honda Car Forum

I need to replace the passenger half axle on our 95 impreza - the inner
u-joint is getting really bad. From what I've heard, the best way to do
this is just replace the whole axle. (correct me if I am wrong,
though).

There are a lot of sources for half axles, including on ebay. I don't
want to do this job more than once so what's a good source reliable
source of rebuilds? I take it most places require a core?

Thanks!
Remco

This came up in a manual transmissions course (focused on
all cars, not just Hondas) I took recently, and was treated
at length. FWIW, generally speaking the preferred route,
cost- and labor-wise, indeed is just to replace the entire
half axle (a.k.a. "half shaft"). This came from the
instructor and my own research on this, which showed that
many automotive authors in the last few years recommend this
route.

Napa and Autozone both offer lifetime warranties on half
axles. The cost runs around $75, typically, at Napa and
Autozone. This price does assume you return the core to Napa
or Autozone or wherever. A junkyard may also sell rebuilt or
used half axles, and for much less, like $5 (seriously) too.
This was from reports from my classmates and the
instructors.

OTOH, a quick groups.google turns up some folks who think
Subarus axles should always be OEM and new. The boot rubber
used by rebuilders such as Napa and Autozone etc. can be
inferior.

Check the replacement half shaft diameter, length, and
number of splines carefully with the old half shaft. That's
one point that can trip up the person doing the repair.
People say that when the match is not correct, Autozone etc.
have no problem working with the customer to get the exact
match.

The solution may depend on how much longer you want to keep
this Subaru and so gamble on a rebuild through a place like
Napa etc.

The subaru newsgroup(s) have some posts on this.

"Remco" <whybcuz@yahoo.com> wrote
>I need to replace the passenger half axle on our 95
>impreza - the inner
> u-joint is getting really bad. From what I've heard, the
> best way to do
> this is just replace the whole axle. (correct me if I am
> wrong,
> though).
>
> There are a lot of sources for half axles, including on
> ebay. I don't
> want to do this job more than once so what's a good source
> reliable
> source of rebuilds? I take it most places require a core?
>
> Thanks!
> Remco
>

Elle wrote:
> This came up in a manual transmissions course (focused on
> all cars, not just Hondas) I took recently, and was treated
> at length. FWIW, generally speaking the preferred route,
> cost- and labor-wise, indeed is just to replace the entire
> half axle (a.k.a. "half shaft"). This came from the
> instructor and my own research on this, which showed that
> many automotive authors in the last few years recommend this
> route.
>
> Napa and Autozone both offer lifetime warranties on half
> axles. The cost runs around $75, typically, at Napa and
> Autozone. This price does assume you return the core to Napa
> or Autozone or wherever. A junkyard may also sell rebuilt or
> used half axles, and for much less, like $5 (seriously) too.
> This was from reports from my classmates and the
> instructors.
>
> OTOH, a quick groups.google turns up some folks who think
> Subarus axles should always be OEM and new. The boot rubber
> used by rebuilders such as Napa and Autozone etc. can be
> inferior.
>
> Check the replacement half shaft diameter, length, and
> number of splines carefully with the old half shaft. That's
> one point that can trip up the person doing the repair.
> People say that when the match is not correct, Autozone etc.
> have no problem working with the customer to get the exact
> match.
>
> The solution may depend on how much longer you want to keep
> this Subaru and so gamble on a rebuild through a place like
> Napa etc.
>
> The subaru newsgroup(s) have some posts on this.
>

Oops -- Sorry, I typed "Impreza" but meant to type "Integra".
I am an idiot but, in my defense, this was typed before my morning
coffee.

(This is because I have a different problem with my daughter's Impreza
at the moment so that's what I have on the brain.)


Does what you say hold true about integras/civics as well, then?




> "Remco" <whybcuz@yahoo.com> wrote
> >I need to replace the passenger half axle on our 95
> >impreza - the inner
> > u-joint is getting really bad. From what I've heard, the
> > best way to do
> > this is just replace the whole axle. (correct me if I am
> > wrong,
> > though).
> >
> > There are a lot of sources for half axles, including on
> > ebay. I don't
> > want to do this job more than once so what's a good source
> > reliable
> > source of rebuilds? I take it most places require a core?
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Remco
> >

Remco wrote:
> I need to replace the passenger half axle on our 95 impreza - the inner
> u-joint is getting really bad. From what I've heard, the best way to do
> this is just replace the whole axle. (correct me if I am wrong,
> though).
>
> There are a lot of sources for half axles, including on ebay. I don't
> want to do this job more than once so what's a good source reliable
> source of rebuilds? I take it most places require a core?
>
> Thanks!
> Remco
-----------------------------------

What country?

'Curly'

"Remco" <whybcuz@yahoo.com> wrote
> Does what you say hold true about integras/civics as well,
> then?

Yes. Furthermore, the Honda/Acura half shafts are said to be
fairly easy to pull, too. Sounds like an intermediate level
job (well, by my standards). It is something I would try on
my own, especially since the young kids in my class who had
pulled a half shaft said they typically had not found it too
difficult. The easiness of the job to me argues for getting
the ones with a lifetime warranty from Autozone or Napa. If
I'd done the job at least once, I might even be able to talk
myself into the cheaper ones from the local salvage yard.

IIRC, the variation in half shaft diameter, length, and
spline number is somewhat notorious for Hondas, so measure
all carefully at Autozone, etc.

Elle wrote:
> "Remco" <whybcuz@yahoo.com> wrote
> > Does what you say hold true about integras/civics as well,
> > then?
>
> Yes. Furthermore, the Honda/Acura half shafts are said to be
> fairly easy to pull, too. Sounds like an intermediate level
> job (well, by my standards). It is something I would try on
> my own, especially since the young kids in my class who had
> pulled a half shaft said they typically had not found it too
> difficult. The easiness of the job to me argues for getting
> the ones with a lifetime warranty from Autozone or Napa. If
> I'd done the job at least once, I might even be able to talk
> myself into the cheaper ones from the local salvage yard.
>
> IIRC, the variation in half shaft diameter, length, and
> spline number is somewhat notorious for Hondas, so measure
> all carefully at Autozone, etc.

Great - thanks! I'll try autozone. Have only messed with axles on my vw
bug.
Looking at the service manual it does not look difficult but seems
involving.

motsco_ wrote:
> Remco wrote:
> > I need to replace the passenger half axle on our 95 impreza - the inner
> > u-joint is getting really bad. From what I've heard, the best way to do
> > this is just replace the whole axle. (correct me if I am wrong,
> > though).
> >
> > There are a lot of sources for half axles, including on ebay. I don't
> > want to do this job more than once so what's a good source reliable
> > source of rebuilds? I take it most places require a core?
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Remco
> -----------------------------------
>
> What country?
>
> 'Curly'

SW Connecticut.

I've done both axles (at different times, several years ago) on my '92
Civic, using rebuilts from Autozone. The only problem was that one had
teeth that were slightly beat up, and wouldn't fit through the hub --
it's a tight fit. They exchanged it. Inspect the teeth before you
leave the store.
The Haynes book recommends getting the split ring thingy that locks the
shaft into the tranny. You may of course have a problem getting the
nut off the hub. When I replaced the engine in my '85 Accord, a long
breaker bar wouldn't budge it. I rented an electric impact wrench, and
after a couple long sessions with it, it loosened. I ended up buying
one for about $20 at a Homier traveling tool show. They aren't very
powerful, but the rattling is sometimes what you need.

Remco wrote:
> Elle wrote:
> > "Remco" <whybcuz@yahoo.com> wrote
> > > Does what you say hold true about integras/civics as well,
> > > then?
> >
> > Yes. Furthermore, the Honda/Acura half shafts are said to be
> > fairly easy to pull, too. Sounds like an intermediate level
> > job (well, by my standards). It is something I would try on
> > my own, especially since the young kids in my class who had
> > pulled a half shaft said they typically had not found it too
> > difficult. The easiness of the job to me argues for getting
> > the ones with a lifetime warranty from Autozone or Napa. If
> > I'd done the job at least once, I might even be able to talk
> > myself into the cheaper ones from the local salvage yard.
> >
> > IIRC, the variation in half shaft diameter, length, and
> > spline number is somewhat notorious for Hondas, so measure
> > all carefully at Autozone, etc.
>
> Great - thanks! I'll try autozone. Have only messed with axles on my vw
> bug.
> Looking at the service manual it does not look difficult but seems
> involving.

Remco wrote:
> I need to replace the passenger half axle on our 95 impreza - the inner
> u-joint is getting really bad. From what I've heard, the best way to do
> this is just replace the whole axle. (correct me if I am wrong,
> though).
>
> There are a lot of sources for half axles, including on ebay. I don't
> want to do this job more than once so what's a good source reliable
> source of rebuilds? I take it most places require a core?
>
> Thanks!
> Remco
>

I would get a dealer quote just for grins. Who knows, maybe their price
is reasonable. Much depends on how long you plan to keep running the
car. If you want another 11 years out of it, then a new Honda/Acura
part might make sense. If another 2-5 years will do then a parts store
rebuilt may be in order.

John

ALF_SCHUMWAY@HOTMAIL.COM wrote:
> I've done both axles (at different times, several years ago) on my '92
> Civic, using rebuilts from Autozone. The only problem was that one had
> teeth that were slightly beat up, and wouldn't fit through the hub --
> it's a tight fit. They exchanged it. Inspect the teeth before you
> leave the store.
> The Haynes book recommends getting the split ring thingy that locks the
> shaft into the tranny. You may of course have a problem getting the
> nut off the hub. When I replaced the engine in my '85 Accord, a long
> breaker bar wouldn't budge it. I rented an electric impact wrench, and
> after a couple long sessions with it, it loosened. I ended up buying
> one for about $20 at a Homier traveling tool show. They aren't very
> powerful, but the rattling is sometimes what you need.
>

Thanks -- you're saying to replace that split ring, then?

About getting nuts off: I am restoring a vw beetle so after trying to
get some of the rusted bolts off, I invested in an IR impact gun. If it
doesn't come off, it will break

> Remco wrote:
> > Elle wrote:
> > > "Remco" <whybcuz@yahoo.com> wrote
> > > > Does what you say hold true about integras/civics as well,
> > > > then?
> > >
> > > Yes. Furthermore, the Honda/Acura half shafts are said to be
> > > fairly easy to pull, too. Sounds like an intermediate level
> > > job (well, by my standards). It is something I would try on
> > > my own, especially since the young kids in my class who had
> > > pulled a half shaft said they typically had not found it too
> > > difficult. The easiness of the job to me argues for getting
> > > the ones with a lifetime warranty from Autozone or Napa. If
> > > I'd done the job at least once, I might even be able to talk
> > > myself into the cheaper ones from the local salvage yard.
> > >
> > > IIRC, the variation in half shaft diameter, length, and
> > > spline number is somewhat notorious for Hondas, so measure
> > > all carefully at Autozone, etc.
> >
> > Great - thanks! I'll try autozone. Have only messed with axles on my vw
> > bug.
> > Looking at the service manual it does not look difficult but seems
> > involving.