broke two 1/2 inch drive breaker bars, bought a 3/4 inch drive breaker bar, it came off easy. couldn't get new cv axle on. took off C type retaining ring, axle went on fine.
can I get new ring at napa ? ring must have stretched on removal . need to get it back on, or purchase a new one. don't know how to get it on ? maybe with a socket, 3/4 inch is too small.

 

Invest in impact it will make your like that much easier. What ring are you talking about for a CV axle? I've changed many and don't remember that.

 

the set ring is on the intermediate shaft, I bought a new one because axle wouldn't go in, now can't get the new set ring back on the intermediate shaft.

 

It really should just slide on. You might try a snap ring tool to help get it started. Once it's on, it's just a matter of sliding it into the groove.

 

its a C , you are supposed to be able to put the open part of the C on the groove, and push it on with your thumb or a piece of wood. no go, if I open it up enough to be able to snap it into place, it is too wide for the female axle to compress it. I may try to heat it up with a plumbers torch, and pop it on there using welder gloves.
I saw one instance like this on u tube. guy had axle on bench, male would not go in trans. so he heated C ring up with torch while on axle and pinched it with pliers. let it cool off while holding pliers. this compressed its size, so he was able to install it in trans.

 

Do you have c-clamp pliers. If so use those to pinch the clamp to put to open end in then you will be able to push the rest in with your hand. It's the same concept when changing bearings

 

thanks, I may try that or spring pliers. I put everything back together without set ring in there. when I went to take it apart again, couldn't get axle back off, its seized together again. will need to pull back boot and remove new cv axle with a 5lb.slide hammer. so taking a break from this. if I need a 5lb slide hammer to get it off of intermediate shaft, what is the point of removing it ?

 

When you put it like that, I'm wondering if there was another clip inside that engaged onto the axle/CV joint.

 

I had looked inside female part of cv axle, there is no ring in there , just open space past the splines. for the end of shaft and set ring to spring into. maybe the shaft is flared just enough to act as a set ring ?

 

drove car this weekend, no set ring on intermediate shaft, new axle is still seized on there. its not budging. the shimmy on acceleration is gone, the new 31$ axle fixed the issue. thanks. so it was the axle after all. there is a sound coming from the intermediate shaft area, the guy at salvage yard said the intermediate shaft goes bad on these models. when I checked it I felt no side to side play, but it did seem like a lot of in and out play . haven't given up on getting the set ring on. will keep posted.