Removing drive shaft - tips and difficulty?

[tobie]

Hi there PistonHeads,

I have to remove the drive shaft to replace the alternator, I cannot remove the alternator from the engine bay without doing this.

I am going to attempt it tomorrow morning, however having never removed one before I am wondering if anyone has any tips or tricks, and if there is anything I should prepare myself for?

I've got a 200pc socket set from Halfords, axle stands, jack, some other tools (breaker bar, hammer etc), from what I read this should be enough.

The car is an 07 Suzuki Swift Sport if that helps,

Thanks!

[xjay1337]

Check the bolts aren't weird mutlispline types, you may get away with a Torx bit depending how tight they are.

[Spangles]

You'll probably need to split balljoints, remove the driveshaft nut and drain the gearbox.

[DrDeAtH]

Could you get away with jut dropping the lower ball joint out and swinging the hub forward/backward to gain enough clearance to fight the alternator out?

[xjay1337]

Spangles said:

You'll probably need to split balljoints, remove the driveshaft nut and drain the gearbox.

Drain the gearbox to remove the drive shaft?

[Viperz888]

xjay1337 said:

Spangles said:

You'll probably need to split balljoints, remove the driveshaft nut and drain the gearbox.

Drain the gearbox to remove the drive shaft?

On a lot of gearboxes, the shafts act as seals, so when you take one out the fluid will come out. It's good practise to drain from the drain hole prior to this, for ease of draining and to keep the fluid cleaner (especially if you are re-using it).

The other tool I've mention to OP would be a socket for the axle nut - often these can be strange or large sizes so not likely that you'd have one in a simple Halfords case. And remember that some are left hand threaded!

Edited by Viperz888 on Tuesday 19th January 12:42

[tobie]

Hi everyone, thanks for the comments. I've got it done now, removing the drive shaft was easier than unbolting the alternator! Access was tight. It's all back together now.

Thanks again!