Unknown CV axle issue

[myotis1134]

I'm doing my CVs, and have both sides in. I've reinstalled everything on the driver side - to the point where I was running up the axle nut in preparation for torquing after the wheels are back on.

When I am putting the vehicle in any gear, both axles spin freely. If I push the driver axle back towards the transmission, it engages and stops spinning.

Did I install the axles on wrong sides? They didn't have a sticker or tag or anything indicating a specific side when they came out of the box.

When I installed the driver side axle, I had to shove on it, and it popped in sort of hard. could I have broken an internal part, or pushed something out of place? I was careful to make sure I could feel that the splines were lined up correctly...

1991 MTX

 

[myotis1134]

Sorry, the "edit" button has moved.

When the axle is butted up flush against the knuckle, it is disengaged at the transmission. It feels like it is solidly butted up against the transmission as well, which makes me wonder if the axles have designated sides with different length splines.

 

[zoomlater]

You shouldn't be able to install the axles on the wrong side. The left axle has splines on both ends. The right axle has splines on one end only, the other end has to slide over the splines of the intermediate shaft. The ends with the ABS ring on it should be the side that goes in the knuckle.

When you removed your old axle, did the old circlip come out with it. Was there a new circlip on the new axle.

 

[myotis1134]

Affirmative zoom. The passenger side axle had female splines, and the driver side axle had a new circlip. The old axle came out with its circlip as well.

 

[myotis1134]

I have broken it all back down, just to see if I somehow mangled the circlip while shoving it in. Everything looks good...

 

[zoomlater]

Can you compare the length of the new axle to your old one

 

[myotis1134]

Identical. I ordered them from SHO Source, so I don't expect any issues on fitment.

 

[myotis1134]

Just in case someone has the proper dimensions laying about. After the splines they are approximate.

 

[zoomlater]

I've installed the Shosource axles before without issues. I took a look at my spare tranny and the insides looks the same as the photo you posted. The wheels can rotate independently of each other. Did you try comparing the diameter of the installed circlip with your original axle?

 

[myotis1134]

I have not, but am prepping to do so now. Is there a possibility that losing most of the transmission fluid could have caused this?

 

[zoomlater]

Some fluid comes out when you remove the axle, but I didn't think it was that much. Were you losing tranny fluid from somewhere else? I don't see a correlation to losing tranny fluid and your fitment issue.