Axles can’t just drop out if the knuckle is tight and secure.

 

Could you elaborate just a little bit? As far as what do you mean knuckle? Are you referring to where the axle comes through the bearing and tightened by the nut? Because it’s all together and tightened up.

 

Axle nut torqued to 155 ft lbs?

 

I torqued it, all I remember is googling the torque spec.

but now the “extra info” comes out. The cv boot was torn. I was shopping for a new boot when I came across the whole axle for $40 on Amazon.

At first thought it was just a refurbished axle out of an HHR. Perhaps I am wrong and it is sub par parts. I had no reason before to question this. Now I do.

maybe I’ll know more Monday once I get the car home and I can tear back into it

 

Why would you remove an axle to replace a LCA?
The days of replacing CV boots are long gone.
Be aware that the inner joint is a tri-pot (slip joint) that is supposed to move in and out. Do not try to pull the axle shaft.
There is a link to a Service Manual in my sig. Link to FREE Service Manuals

 

Don

I didn’t remove the cv axle to do the lca. I removed it because I discovered the boot was torn wide open and very dry inside. I wanted to replace it while I was in there, which I did

 

I got the car home and apart, my hunch was correct. It seems there’s no c clip there to hold the axle in. The old one must have come off and I didn’t realize it in my haste.

my issue is finding a replacement. I have scoured the internet for HHR axle spline c clip but I’m coming up with either a weird one (probably for the inner side) or nothing at all.

Edit: I was asking for help finding the part number for this clip but I found what I needed at rock auto in a seal kit

 

I was gonna suggest you change the seal

 

Yes the seal got damaged when the axle came out. I can se it gashed on the lip. My only hope is, nothing else got hurt in the drive. There was some really loud clanging going on.

I did this job the same time I did those lower control arms and let me tell you that was the most hateful job I’ve probably ever done on a car and I’ve done many. Getting to those corroded castle nuts was a real chore. It’s no wonder I missed the c clip. I was in a hurry to just get this danged thing buttoned up

 

Ok. Dang. I’m a bit of a tard I guess.

The clip and seal came in and I put this back together. Was delighted that the axle now “snaps in” and does not come right back out with a tug. I took it for a drive and I still hear that clicking sound, the same sound it made before the axle came out the last time.

I carefully returned home and took the tire back off. I should have checked this before. There is a lot of slop in the axle where it goes into the transmission. I can move it up down left right side to side lots of movement. The driver side is snug and not like this.

After searching around on this site I come to realize there is a stub shaft in there? I thought that was just the internals of the transmission. Should this stub shaft just come out with a pull? Tomorrow I wish to have another crack at this. I would like to remove that stub shaft and have a gander at it. Maybe there’s another clip in there that is bad. I am not sure how to remove it. Does it just pull out? Any pointers from anyone? Other than “don’t quit your day job”. lol