Hi all,
I need to remove the driveshafts from a 1994 Rover 416 (same as a Honda Concerto, I think) automatic to replace a worn CV joint gaiter.
The Haynes Tome of Wisdom depicts a large screwdriver being used as a lever to 'pop' the shaft out of the gearbox, as it's retained in place by a circlip ('set ring') in a slot in the splines in the crown wheel. The Honda dealers' workshop manual (which Honda, bless them, saw fit to put in PDF form on their web site - top marks for this, Mr. Honda) shows the same approach being used.
Now, I don't know much about these things, and I've never had to do one of these before. It worries me, though, that I'll lever it out, and then discover that the circlip catches on the oil seal and damages it as it comes out. If I do get it out, I then worry that I either won't be able to get it back in again, since the circlip will presumably jam against the splines before it ever gets as far as the slot into which it's supposed to engage, or else it'll damage the oil seal on the way in (how does the circlip, which sits proud of the splines, go past the oil seal lip, which presumably is a tight fit against the shaft?). Haynes and Honda both seem to think that it's just a matter of pushing it in (but there again, Haynes told me that I could fit a brake shoe return spring by just 'manoeuvring it into position with a pair of long nosed pliers', neglecting to mention the 2 foot crowbar which would be required to get enough leverage on it).
I really can't see how this circlip retainer arrangement would work! Does anyone have any experience of this - is it really just a matter of levering it out with a big screwdriver and pressing it back in by hand, or will I need to practice my swearing reflex for a few days beforehand...??
Cheers!
Brian.