I am working on my dads 03 sportsman 500 right rear axle. the outer boot was cut so i ordered a new one and am having a hard time getting the axle out, i cut the outer boot off and my problem now is trying to get the joint to slide of the axle its not froze up i can move it a little in and out but cant seem to pull hard enough to get that inner snap ring to pop off? any tricks while the axle is still on or any easy way to get the whole axle off so i can put it in a clamp and pop it off with more room to work? any help would be greatly appreciated thanks

 

there is no way to put the boot on w/ out taking the axle off the bike. soak the shaft where it goes into the trans. w/ some good penetrating oil(not wd-40) and let it sit for awhile, and then try to snap it out and maybe even a little easy prying(carefull not to break anything). there are sevral post of the subject if you do a search.

 

you can do the outer boot without removing axle, clean the grease out of the joint so you can see in it, there is a snap ring that holds the joint on the shaft, you can only get to it in one spot on the joint and its kinda a backwards snap ring, I have a small pair of pliers to spread it, then tap the joint with a hammer, have also done it with 2 small screw drivers, I usually do remove the whole axle just so I can work on it in the vice on the bench

 

You tube has many videos showing how to do it and even one showing how to take the CV apart to clean out the ball bearings of old grease.

 

I used a ball joint spreader and with a couple of small taps it came out.

 

A larger crescent wrench wrapped in a rag and a few hammer hits also works.

 

i was thinking back a$$ words on it being the inner(by trans) cv instead of the outside one.lol. yes it can be done as he mentioned. personally i i would take the whole axle out and put it on the bench.

 

thanks im going to try to see if i can take the snap ring and spread it apart if that dont work then ill go with getting the whole axle off... i think that would be the best way so i can get it in a vice but just having a hell of a time tryin to pry it out of the rear end with little room to get a pry bar in it

 

if you sprayed around it real good with penetrating oil, tie the upper a-arm out of the way and a good sharp straight yank should pop it out of rear end, I have had to use a slide hammer on some, they can be a pain

 

Like Kerbbirds said. Cut whats left of the outer boot off, clean all the grease out you can and you will see a small cut way on the ball housing once you find it there is a snap ring holding the cv joint on. you need to open or spread the snap ring in order for the cv joint to come off the axle. I used 2 very small flat bladed screwdrivers its tricky but can be done. I did mine while the complete shaft was still installed on the quad. the fronts are much easer the cv joint is only held in by a compression ring and with a sharp pull they pop off.