So, I have this Venture with 170k miles on it and would like to keep it another couple of years. We really like it...

Transmission gutted itself about 3 years ago, so I picked up a fresher one at salvage yard and installed. Has been fine for 3 years.

Yesterday it made some nasty noises for the wife as soon as she took off, so she pulled back in the driveway.

After some initial troubleshooting, it seemed that the left CV assembly was not all the way in...hence the fluid on the driveway, so I started to remove it to see what was the problem.

After some left front suspension disassembly to remove CV shaft, the axle came out with the shaft. Ok, never had that happen before.

Main question is: Is this a repair that can be done with transmission in the chassis? If not, I may just go get a slightly fresher replacement at salvage yard again. Kind of a pain to replace, but I don't want to do a total rebuild. If I have to take it out, I prefer to just replace it.

I think it is a 4t65e...didn't buy the book yet, but will if it will help with in-chassis fix.

Thanks for any help.

I've had the output shaft come with the axle before. All it means is the circlip on the axle to output was stronger than the one from the output shaft to diff. Or the diff one popped easier.

I have held the output shaft and banged with a hammer on the inner cup of the axle to seperate them. Then insert the correct end into the transmision..gently slide it in..the last say inch it'll stop. Give it a quick smack with a block of wood and hammer. It should pop right back into the diff and you are ready to reassemble when the time comes.

Did you remove the output shaft all the way? If so, you must be very careful you don't damage the oil damn. There'* a plastic ring on the output shaft and that needs to stay in the transmission.

Dan.. It can't come out with the output shaft.

u dont need to remove the trans from the chasis to replace the cvd axle im not that familiar with that model but i would think there is a axle nut on the front hub.

Bill, half of it can.

Not unless you broke it. It'* a one piece item. It resides about two thirds of the way down the leg, closer to the diff.

The circlip can catch on it and destroy it, if you are careful though...that shouldn't happen.

I think the circlip broke or came off the end of the axle. There was no clip on the end of the axle when it came out. The axel and CV shaft are still together. I looked down the inside of the transaxle hole and it is clean, no parts or pieces, and nothing came out with the axle. If I pull the pan, can I see the ends of the axles? Seems like I would want to install the clip when the axle is installed...and I would like to remove the old clip from the trans to ensure it doesn't get digested somewhere.

If no clip, then it came off and is likely in the bottom pan. The output shaft comes out with no problems to the oil dam if the clip is not there. To be safe, I say install the output shaft, remove the diff cover and then install the clip there. You can work the output shaft and clip past the oil dam but you do risk breaking it. I broke one even when being careful.

If you find the whole clip. Then I'd put a new one on the output shaft, put a little grease on it to hold it centered and try to put it together w/o pulling the diff. Only because that'* another axle to pull.