Hello again. So, this time around on the “what did I have to fix around the house” fun I got to fix part of our Ford Fusion.
On Sunday the low tire pressure light came on when we were on our way to church. I visually checked the tires at church I nothing looked too low so I didn’t worry about it. Made it home, and completely forgot to fill up the tires. That evening “B” and I went out for dinner together (just the two of us). We were running late and we pulled out and I saw the light and went “Oh yeah the tires.” But there wasn’t time to fill the compressor so I was going to check it when we got home. We got home, I opened the garage and started the compressor. Then I started filling the tires. All were a little low. But when I made it to the front driver tire (the last one as I went around the car) I saw a large amount of grease coming through the rim spokes. I thought, on no… So, I stuck my head under the car, in the dark, and sure enough I saw that I thought I was going to see – a split in the CV axle boot. CRAP! This was totally a God thing. I am very sure that the split happened that evening, and I wouldn’t have seen it if I hadn’t checked the tire pressure that night. Thank you God!
(this picture is after I wiped most of the grease off the area. The split is in the left boot right on the top near the small metal strap clamp you can see there)
So, that night I spent time looking up how to fix this on the Ford. I have done both front axles on my 4runner before for the same reason so I was hoping it would be about at the same. I was also hoping to find out if there was a replacement boot rather than having to do the whole axle. No luck really. There was a solid boot replacement kit, but you still have to take the axle out, and you then have to get a tool to stretch the boot around the axle and slide it on. I thought to myself, “That looks like a great way to damage the boot while putting it on.” So, I had to find an axle. I found a replacement at Autozone, but a number of the reviews talk about it not being the right axle if you owned a very nearly model of the car, which we do. So, I called Ford the next day, and they were rude, “This is the part for your car based on your VIN.” “But the internet says that even that can be wrong for this part in this case” I said. Ford guy, “It is never wrong if you use the VIN.” Needless to say I wasn’t going to deal with them.
I got the part, and then the fun began. I had to get the old one out. That requires jacking the car up and securing it so it won’t fall down. Then taking the tire off, then the axle nut comes off with an impact wrench, and then a few through bolts that hold the brakes and rotor on so it could move out of the way. After that the fun begins. You have to then get the axle out of the transmission. That require a big pry bar, and a lot of wiggling (and some prayer). It came out, and I removed it. Then I compared it in length to the replacement and it matched (thankfully).
So, then I had to get the new one in. This is the hard part. You first have to line it up and get it started into the transmission. That was fairly easy, but there is a retaining ring on there so the axle can’t slip back out, and it holds the seal on the axle and transmission so you don’t lose fluid. But you have to get the axle to push past that ring so it can slip into the place where it is supposed to go to hold the axle in. This required a lot of pushing, and praying, and more praying, and at times pleading with God. It just didn’t want to slip in at all. The internet talks about just pushing and wiggling and it eventually goes in. Well, after an hour or so of just trying to do this one thing I was ready to give up, ok not really since I needed to get the car fixed, but buy did I want to. I found a video of a guy using a pair of vise-grips and an air hammer to hammer it in, and I thought, “That looks like a bad idea.” and sure enough all the comments said the same thing, but one comment caught my eye and mentioned installing the other end of the axle back into the wheel putting the nut on it and tapping it with a rubber dead blow hammer. So, I tried it, and with just two lite taps it went it. Again, thank you God!
The rest went smoothly and the car drove great afterwards. So, all good there. Again, I am thankful that I have the ability to do these things. I may not want to do them, I may not like to do them, but I am able to do them. I know that is a gift I have.
As you can see in this picture I have a couple chairs and a sheet to block the sun for me. That is all because of my wonderful wife. She came out and found me in the sun, and then started building that for me to block the sun. I must say I am so blessed to have such a caring wife.