Conference terri::cars_uk

    	I had to dismantle a mk2 Escort axle for the Westfield. Removal of 
    half shafts is supposedly possible with a slide hammer. I couldn't
    manage this so I had to take it to a garage. They had to heat the 
    casing to free the half shafts. this effectively wrecked the bearings,
    so new ones had to be pressed on. Total cost was ~#30. The half shafts
    are held in by the wheel bearings which are an interferance fit in the
    casing. The wheel bearings, if they are similar to the Escort will
    definitely need a hydraulic press.
    
    	Hope this is of use
    
    			Jeremy

    To remove the halfshaft you will need to jack up, remove the wheel
    and brake drum.  Don't bother removing the shoes unless the pull
    off springs obscure the set screws.
    
    Remove the 4 set screws holding the axle flange to the casing and
    then you have four options:
    
    The half shaft will slide out with little resistance
    
    Use two levers against the shoes to lever the halfshaft out
    
    Use a slide hammer  (local hire shop)
    
    Ensuring that the car is on stands, refit the road wheel and from
    under the care applt brute force to the inner face of the wheel
    by laying along the axle and pushing with your feet.
    
    If none of these work the you you've got a *real* problem.  I've
    had to use all of these methods during my years of mending cars.
    
    The bearing is a combined bearing and oil seal held in place by
    a collar.  It's this collar that needs the press and you will need
    a new one with your bearing.  You will also need to replace the
    paper flange gasket when replacing the halfshaft.
    
    It's a fairly straight forward job.  Good luck!
                                                                    

    
    Thanks for the replies.
    
    If it's a brute force and ignorance job I'll have a go as I have at
    least one of those qualities in abundance! :^)
    
    Mark

    
    Oh, and how do I ensure the half shaft is fitted BACK properly?
    
    Mark

    "Refitting is a reverse of removal"
    
    	Push in the halfshaft and fiddle about with it till the splines
    in the end engage with the diff. Try giving the diff a few turns and
    see if the halfshaft turns smoothly. Apply brute force in the form of a
    heavy hammer to push the new bearings into the seats. Bolt on the
    retaining plate. This again assumes that the Mk2 cortina axle is similar
    to the Escort. I don't know if I've done it properly yet as the car
    hasn't turned a wheel.
    
    		Jeremy                                            

    BEFORE removal, get a centre punch and mark the half-shaft with a dot
    and dot the casing from which it is removed in a position opposite the
    dot on the half-shaft.
    This ensures you put it back in the same place..!!

	The Mark II, IV and V cortina axle half shafts come out after removing
	the brake drum, odd bits and four bolts.  Mine needed a bit of gentle
	persuasion with a lump of wood.  If I were you, I'd replace both 
	half shaft bearings.  Also, put the half shafts back where you found
	them (right and left).  Apparently, if you put them back the wrong
	way, they tend to fail fairly quickly.

	Dave

    
    Right,
    
    Well wish me luck, I'm going to have a go tomorrow!
    
    Mark

    
    Sadly, my axle did NOT fit the description you all gave, so I
    contacted the Marcos factory. Apparently the axle is from a Corsair
    2000E (I was once told this is the same as a Cortina Mk II 1600GT
    axle), which is not the same as a NORMAL Corsair V4 axle.
    
    Oh well, anyway the garage around the corner quoted me 40 quid plus
    parts, so I think I'll drop the car into them one morning and let them
    sort the problem out.
    
    Thanks for the help anyway,
    
    Mark