legacycentral bbs

How important is it to install the pin that holds the cv axle in place (on the stub that comes out of the transmission)?

I had a couple decent "take off" cv axles in my parts pile, so I replaced the ticking ones on the car. I messed up one pin by accidentally driving a screwdriver through the center of it.

So now one side has no pin holding it in place. I can't see what difference it would really make, since there is no way it could slip off.

there is a way it could slip off.
For both axle replacements on my FWD, I could lift the car, turn the wheel completely in one direction (can't remember which), and the shaft will slip out for easy replacement without unfastening all the other stuff. (Once the pin and brass nut were removed)
It's unlikely to repeat this with the car on the ground under normal driving, and it may be specific to certain models/years/etc. I'd still put something in there where the pin goes if possible.

You need the pin. Replacements are only about a dollar at the dealer.

I was at a autozone to buy a replacement CV shaft, and when I got home, it didn't have the pin. I took it back to the store for a refund, and the asst. manager told me to use a nail and didn't want to let me return the shaft. I laughed at him, got the head manager to give me my money back and got an axle with a pin from another store.

So yah, some people will tell you to go ghetto, don't listen to them.

+1 for needing the pin.

A nail? Holy smokes. That wouldn't be dangerous at all!

Exactly. Needless to say, I've never gone back to that store since. They're notorious for handing out ghetto advice.

I have a handfull of those pins, anybody need some?
Before you put these pins in you have to be sure that the stub is installed correctly, if the pin does not tap in with minimum effort there is a good chance that the axle must be removed and turned 180 degrees so that the holes line up completely. It is not good enough just to be able to slide a thin drift through the holes to line them up, they can still be "off" by a half spline and the pin will get stuck or break.

Frank's right. There is a slight trick to replacing the pin. Don't force it, just flip 180 degrees.