Cannot get the CV joint Driver side to pry out of the transaxle

o replace the front passenger CV axle on a 2001 Chevy Venture, you'll need a set of basic tools. Here's a list of tools you might require for this job:

1. Jack and Jack Stands:
   • Used to lift the vehicle safely and provide support during the repair.
2. Wheel Chocks:
   • Ensures that the vehicle stays in place while lifting one end.
3. Lug Wrench:
   • To loosen and remove the lug nuts securing the wheel.
4. Socket Set and Wrenches:
   • Various sizes to remove bolts and nuts securing the CV axle.
5. Pry Bar or Crowbar:
   • Helps in removing components like the wheel hub.
6. Pliers:
   • Used to remove cotter pins and other small components.
7. Hammer:
   • May be needed to tap or gently persuade parts loose.
8. Torque Wrench:
   • Necessary for tightening nuts and bolts to the manufacturer's specifications.
9. Pry Tool or Flathead Screwdriver:
   • Useful for prying apart certain components.
10. Hub Puller (Optional):
    • Sometimes required to remove the wheel hub from the CV axle.
11. CV Joint Clamp Pliers:
    • If your CV axle is secured with clamps, you'll need pliers designed for CV joint clamps.
12. Catch Pan:
    • To catch any transmission fluid that may leak during the process.
13. New CV Axle:
    • Ensure you have the correct replacement part for your specific vehicle.
14. Wheel Bearing Grease:
    • Used to lubricate the CV joint and ensure smooth operation.
15. Service Manual:
    • A repair manual specific to your vehicle can provide step-by-step instructions and torque specifications.

Always follow safety precautions and consult your vehicle's service manual for specific instructions related to your Chevy Venture. If you're not comfortable with the repair process, it's advisable to seek professional assistance.

You need to get two small pry bars that will get behind the CV joint and pry both sides at once. Or you can clamp a slide hammer onto the outer edge of the CV cup and pop it out of the transaxle.

There are thee ways to do this. The first, easiest, but least reliable way is to use split boot repair kit. This allows you to cut the old boot off, clean the joint as best you can, install new grease, and bolt the split boot into place and clamp it. These boots have a higher-than-average failure rate however. The next ways require jacking up the drivers side of the car, remove the wheel, caliper, and rotor. Then remove the hub nut that secures the half-shaft to the wheel bearing. Using a crowbar or other suitable tool, you must pry the inner CV joint out of the transaxle and maneuver the half-shaft out of the vehicle. You must take care not to separate the inner CV joint as it is easily damaged if overextended. You may have to separate the lower ball joint from the lower control arm to remove this shaft as it is the shorter of the two and has less space to work for removal. Once you have the half-shaft out, there are two options - repair or replace. Repair requires removal of the joint from the half-shaft assembly, and it can be difficult for someone with no experience. The easier option is to replace the entire half-shaft with a re-manufactured one. The cost is not much more than that for the repair parts, plus you don't have to worry about dirt, grit and debris in the joint damaging it since it is already fully sealed. Replacement is the reverse of removal. You simply insert the shaft thru the wheel bearing opening and into the transaxle. You must "pop" the inner joint into place to latch it, otherwise it will cause damage by leaking and binding. You will feel it lock in when you do it. The last thing that is critical is that the hub nut has a specific torque requirement. Too much or too little torque will cause the wheel bearing to fail very quickly. So use a reliable torque wrench set at the correct setting. There is no "feel" for the correct tightness on this nut.

To remove an inner CV joint, you must remove the entire half-shaft from the vehicle. Here is the procedure:

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the Precautions Section.
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   
   Front wheel Spindle nut Lower ball joint from the knuckle
3. Press the stub shaft out of the hub, use a plaster hammer if necessary.
4. If removing the left side halfshaft:
   1. Using a suitable pry bar, pry the inner joint out of the transaxle.
5. If removing the right side halfshaft:
   1. Using a suitable pry bar, pry the inner joint out of the center bearing bracket.
   2. Remove the center bearing bracket mounting bolts.
   3. Using a suitable pry bar, pry the center bearing bracket from the cylinder block.
   4. Remove the inner shaft from the transaxle.
   
   
   The individual joints CAN be replaced, but this requires disassembly of the half-shaft by cutting the clamps that hold the boots and frankly is a greasy mess. Remanufactured half-shafts are available for less than $100 USD and are already assembled for immediate installation.

YOU NEED A PULLER ON THE OUTSIDE WHEEL HUB PUSHING THE HALF SHAFT FROM THE FRONT HUB,THEN TAP THE SHAFT UNION AT THE JOINT CASE WITH A PLASTIC HAMMER TO REMOVE THE HALFSHAFT AND INNER SHAFT FROM THE TRANSAXLE. IF YOU HAVE AN INNER SHAFT REMOVE THE HALFSHAFT BY SETTING UP A PULLER ON THE OUTSIDE WHEEL HUB AND PRESSING THE HALFSHAFT FROM THE FRONT HUB. AFTER PRESSING THE OUTER SHAFT INSERT A PRYBAR BETWEEN THE TRANSAXLE CASE AND THE HALFSHAFT AND PRY THE HALF SHAFT FROM THE TRANSAXLE DONT PULL ON THE SHAFT.

Jack up car and apply e-brake. car will roll if one of the front tires leaves the ground. remove tire , spindal nut and lower ball joint bolts. remove axle from hub then use a prybar to pop it out of trans. the passenger side will have a braket holding axle to engine , remove bolts from braket or squeeze snap-ring to rmove axle from braket.

HI there is nothing really special you need the only thing that really makes t easier is a puller to press the axel out of the knuckle. But the common tools will be A good floor jack, jack stands, metric wrenches and scoots up to 19mm a small 3# hammer and assorted length pry bars.

1. Raise the front of the vehicle and support it on jackstands, then remove the wheel and the tire assembly.
2. Remove the cotter pin from the drive axle.
3. Have a helper firmly apply the brakes, and loosen the hub nut.
4. Remove the caliper assembly.

It is not necessary to disconnect the brake hose from the caliper. Position the caliper out of the way and secure with mechanics wire.

1. Using the removal tool HT72520000 or equivalent, remove the tie rod ball joint from the steering knuckle.
2. On 1982-86 vehicles, disconnect the ball joint from the lower control arm, by removing the mounting nuts from the bottom of the control arm.
3. On 1987-90 vehicles, disconnect the ball joint from the steering knuckle, using removal tool HT72520000 or equivalent.
4. Using a block of wood and a mallet, separate the halfshaft from the hub/steering knuckle assembly. If the assembly is difficult to separate it may be necessary to use a press/puller tool.

In order to protect the halfshaft from damage, it is a good idea when striking the halfshaft, to temporarily install the hub nut.

1. Drain the lubricant from the transaxle.
2. Support the engine properly and remove support bracket if so equipped.
3. Remove the halfshaft from the right side on automatic transaxle equipped vehicles and on all manual transaxles as follows:
   1. Insert a suitable prybar between the inner CV-joint and the transaxle.
   2. Carefully pry the halfshaft from the transaxle.
   
   

When removing the driveshaft from the transaxle, do not pull on the driveshaft. The driveshaft will separate at the sliding joint (damaging the boot).

1. Remove the left side halfshaft on automatic transaxles as follows:
   1. Remove the right side halfshaft as outlined above.
   2. Insert a slotted screwdriver, from the right side of the transaxle.
   
   

Make certain that the screwdriver is properly aligned into the slot in the halfshaft.

1. Tap the screwdriver with a mallet to remove the left side halfshaft from the transaxle.

1. Pull the hub/steering knuckle assembly away from the vehicle and remove the halfshaft from the transaxle.

After removing the halfshaft from the transaxle, be sure to install a holding tool to hold the side gear in place while the axle is removed.
To install:

1. Always use a new circlip on the driveshaft and install a new oil seal to the transaxle.
2. Install the halfshaft into the transaxle.

When installing the driveshaft into the transaxle, use oil seal protector tool KV38105500 or equivalent to protect the oil seal from damage; after installation, remove the tool.

1. Align the halfshaft with the hub/knuckle assembly and connect the lower control arm-to-ball joint.
2. On 1982-86 vehicles, connect the lower control arm to the ball joint and tighten the control arm-to-ball joint nuts to 40-47 ft. lbs. (54-64 Nm).
3. On 1987-90 vehicles, connect the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle and tighten the stud nut to 43-54 ft. lbs. (59-74 Nm).
4. Connect the tie rod to the steering knuckle and torque the tie rod stud nut to 22-36 ft. lbs. (30-49 Nm).
5. Install then hub nut and tighten to 87-145 ft. lbs. (118-197 Nm).
6. Install new cotter pin in drive axle and mount the caliper assembly.
7. Install the wheel and tire assembly.
8. Road test for proper operation.

it just pulls out. it hasa circlip that holds it in on driver side. which side?

here's an escort, should be similar. note step 17

Removal

1. Raise and support the vehicle.
   

1. Remove the lug nuts (1012) and the front wheel and tire assembly.
   

1. Remove the front fender splash shield bolts and the front fender splash shields (16103) .
   

1. Use a small cape chisel to carefully raise the staked portion of the front axle wheel hub retainer (3B477).
   
   
   
   
   

1. Remove the front axle wheel hub retainer and discard it.
   

1. Remove the cotter pin and the tie rod end nut from the tie rod end (3A130). Discard the cotter pin.
   
   
   
   
   

1. Use an appropriate tie rod end remover to separate the tie rod end from the front wheel knuckle (3K186).
   
   
   
   
   

1. Remove the ball joint bolt and the ball joint bolt nut.
   
   
   
   
   

1. Carefully pry down on the front suspension lower arm (3078) to separate the front suspension lower arm ball joint (3050) from the front wheel knuckle.
   
   
   
   
   

1. Pull outward on the front wheel knuckle (3K185). Carefully pull the front wheel driveshaft and joint from the front wheel knuckle and position it aside.
   
   
   
   
   

1. NOTE: Removal of the LH front wheel driveshaft and joint (3B437) requires removal of the transmission support crossmember (6A023) to allow access with a pry bar. If the LH front wheel driveshaft and joint is being removed, continue with step 11. If the RH front wheel driveshaft and joint is being removed, continue with step 15.
   
   Support the transaxle with a transaxle jack or equivalent.
   

1. Remove the four transaxle mount-to-rear engine support nuts.
   
   
   
   
   

1. Remove the two rear engine support nuts at the rear of the transmission support crossmember.
   

1. While supporting the rear of the transmission support crossmember remove the two rear engine support bolts. Remove the transmission support crossmember.
   
   
   
   
   

1. Position a drain pan under the transaxle.
   

1. Insert a pry bar between the front wheel driveshaft and joint and the transaxle case.
   

1. CAUTION: Extreme care must be taken to ensure that the pry bar does not damage the transaxle case, the transaxle oil seal, the front wheel driveshaft and joint, or the front wheel driveshaft joint boot (3A331).
   Gently pry outward to release the front wheel driveshaft and joint from the differential side gears (4236).
   
   
   
   
   

1. Remove the front wheel driveshaft and joint.
   
   
   
   
   

1. CAUTION: When the LH and RH front wheel driveshaft and joint assemblies are removed, Transaxle Plugs T88C-7025-AH must be inserted to prevent the differential side gears from becoming mispositioned. If the gears become misaligned, the differential will have to be removed from the transaxle to align the gears.
   If both front wheel driveshaft and joints were removed, install Transaxle Plugs T88C-7025-AH in the differential side gears.
   

1. Remove and discard the driveshaft bearing retainer circlip (3Z498).
   

Removal (3000GT AWD)
1. Remove air cleaner cover, air hoses and vacuum pipe. Remove air cleaner, intake hose, battery, battery
tray and washer tank.
2. Disconnect transaxle control cables and speedometer cable. Raise and support vehicle.
3. Remove both inner fender splash shields. Remove clutch tube bracket and disconnect clutch release
cylinder (including clutch damper assembly on FWD models) and wire aside. Support transaxle assembly
with jack and disconnect upper transaxle mount. Remove mount, bracket, plug and stoppers.
4. Remove transaxle assembly upper coupling bolts. Disconnect tie rod ends and lower arm ball joints.
Remove right support member, starter cover (if equipped) and starter.
5. Remove left side bearing bracket mounting bolts and pry left axle shaft from transaxle. Wire left axle
shaft and inner shaft assembly aside. Pry right axle shaft from transaxle and wire aside.
6. Remove front bank side and rear bank side transaxle stays. Support transaxle assembly with a
transmission jack. Remove transaxle assembly lower coupling bolts and lower transaxle from vehicle.
7. Insert a clutch alining tool to prevent pressure plate and clutch disc from falling. Loosen pressure plate
bolts gradually in a crisscross pattern to avoid warping pressure plate flange. Remove pressure plate and
clutch disc.