I am replacing the cv joint boot on my sportsman and loosened the two bolts that hold the bottom of the shock to be able to remove the cv. I did this without paying attention and didnt realize till it was too late that it was gonna decompress the shock. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img] so im wondering how i recompress it to assemble it and then how i am supposed to gain acess to the cv joint without loosening those two bolts for the next time i do this. any help would be appreciated. also how do you remove the axle from the front housing. im wondering how to do this so that i can gain easier access.

 

when I intalled my shock spacers, I used 2 small ratchet straps to compress the spring, you have to mess with it to get them hooked up right, and it works great once you figure it out

 

thts wht i was thinkin bout doin. is taking it apart to replace the cv joint like that the right way or is their an easier way?

 

as for that I have never replaced on so I let the others take over

 

Undo the ball joint. i used the search engine then a manual.
replace the ball joint if it's slopy.
replace the wheel bearing if it's not smoth turning too.
while your at it the tie rods too.
how much money do you have?
also check the brakes too.
now the axel is the cheap part.
good luck.

 

Do a search on the subject. I did mine a few years back and there was a ton of good info here. I don't remember all the steps but it was easy. Maybe an hour or two.
Check your boots on the other side while you are at it.
Unless you have a lot of hard miles you probably won't need to change all those other things. I'd look everything over real well.
If you get stuck just holler.
Deerkiller