i tore a cv boot on the wheel end on the front of my 2003 400 and the axel ended up either breaking or stripping the hub and ruining the bearings. can anyone tell me the steps on how to remove the axel?

 

Do a search in the Arctic Cat forum for "CV joint boot repair"... find my name and open the topic.... I posted step by step instruction.... I have also posted the complete instructions for taking out the axle someplace also... just do a search and you will find it....
Basically once the outer CV joint is out then just remove the inner boot and remove the large "C" ring inside the housing and the axle will slide out of the housing...

 

what band of axel would ou recomend? i found some on ebay for half the price of oem ones... check these out http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ZWDVW#ebayphotohosting

 

That one is fine... I replace one and I got it at...
http://www.psep.biz/store/arctic_cat_atv_halfshaft.htm

 

One thing about Pat's Small Engine is that shipping is only $5.00 per order... plus the axle is about $5.00 cheaper than ebay... It is the same American axle.