CV Axle Replacement

[jrabenaldt]

I haven't seen much about replacing a front CV Axle on these trucks but completed this over the weekend on my 2016 Sierra Denali.  My truck has the Magneride and a 6" Fabtech lift and it's lived in Tx all it's life so there is 0 rust.

 

This is really straight forward with a couple of changes to the general procedure videos that are available online.  The 36mm axle nut is the biggest hurdle but an impact wrench worked wonders.  Once that is loose and the 6 15mm bolts on the diff are removed it should slide out...  Not so fast.  Most of the videos I saw had the strut removed and I wasn't doing that.  I removed the swaybar endlink and the rear side lower strut bolt and threaded clip for that bolt and was able to then slide the CV axle towards the diff, pivot it 90 degrees then forward out the front of the suspension under the bumper.  The hub side joint will slide between the LCA and the swaybar when it's close to the diff.  

 

Installation is the reverse but the only way to get it in is the same way it came out.  Once the axle side is in and through the hub add the washer and nut to only hold in place.  Install the 6 15mm bolts to the flange for the diff side and tighten.  Reinstall the strut bolt that was removed and the sway bar end link.  I then put the wheel on, lowered, then tightened the axle nut.

 

Now I have to replace 2 lug bolts after screwing the threads trying to remove the axle nut w/o the impact wrench but that's another day...  all 6 nuts are installed but 2 are difficult to turn.