How to Change the Front Passenger Side Axle on a 1997 Ford Aspire

In the 1994 model year, Ford replaced the outdated Festiva with the Aspire. The Aspire did not stray too far from the Festiva, as Kia built the Aspire for Ford, much like it did with the Festiva. Ford released the Aspire to compete with the likes of the ultra-economical Geo Metro, so this was in no way a performance machine. Its 42 mpg highway rating made up for its lackluster 63-horsepower, 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine. A constant velocity axle transfers the power from the transmission to the wheels. Replacing the passengers side axle on the 1997 Aspire requires disassembly of some of the front suspension.

Instructions

1

Set the parking brake. Loosen the front lug nuts on the passengers front wheel, using a ratchet and socket. Raise the front of the Aspire off the ground with a floor jack and slide jack stands under its subframe. Lower the vehicle onto the subframe.

2

Find where the axle socket is stacked to the notch in the outer part of the axle. Position a chisel on this stack and drive it upward with a hammer to straighten the stake. Instruct an assistant to hold the brake pedal, while you loosen the axle nut with a ratchet and socket.

3

Loosen the lower ball joint pinch bolt with a ratchet and socket, while holding the nut on the pinch bolt steady with a combination wrench. Pry downward on the lower control arm with a 12-inch pry bar until the lower ball joint is free from the steering knuckle.

4

Position a drain pan under where the axle meets the transmission. Pry the axle from the transmission, using a 12-inch pry bar.

5

Remove the axle nut from the front axle and use a rubber mallet to drive the axle from the steering knuckle.

6

Apply a thin coat of Mercon transmission fluid to the inside end of the axle. Line up the inside end of the axle with the transmissions output shaft and press the axle into the output shaft until it seats in the shaft. Pull outward on the axle to verify engagement.

7

Spread a thin coat of Mercon transmission fluid to the outer end of the axle. Carefully guide the axle into its hole in the steering knuckle, use caution not to damage the wheel bearing grease seals. Hand-tighten the new axle nut, included with the axle, onto the axle.

8

Guide the tie-rod end stud into its hole on the bottom of the steering knuckle. Tighten the lower ball joint pinch bolt to between 32 and 40 foot-pounds with a torque wrench, as you hold the nut steady with a combination wrench.

9

Instruct an assistant to hold the brake pedal. Tighten the axle nut to between 116 and 174 foot-pounds. Tell the assistant to release the pedal. Using the chisel and a hammer, stake the new axle nut into the notch in the axle.

10

Install the wheel on the hub and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Raise the Aspire off the jack stands with a floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the vehicle to the ground. Torque the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to between 65 and 87 foot-pounds.

11

Proceed to Step 16 if your Aspire has an automatic transmission. Continue on to Step 12 if the vehicle has a manual transmission.

12

Look on top of the transmission and find where the speedometer cable goes into the transmission. Remove the speedometer retainer, the metal nut securing the cable on the speedometer gear assembly, by hand. If it does not loosen, you may use slip-joint pliers to loosen it. Slide the retainer away from the gear assembly.

13

Pull the speedometer cable from the gear assembly. Remove the bolt securing the speedometer gear assembly and pull the speedometer gear assembly from the transmission. Wipe the transmission fluid from the speedometer gear assembly, using a clean, lint-free cloth.

14

Insert the gear assembly back into the transmission and remove it again. Look on the side of the gear assembly and find the small dipstick near the top of the assembly. Verify that the transmission fluid is between the F and L marks. If the fluid is not between these marks, insert a funnel into the speedometer gear assemblys hole in the transmission and add Mercon transmission fluid until the level is correct.

15

Insert the speedometer gear assembly back into the transmission and hand-thread its bolt. Tighten the gear assembly to 7 foot-pounds. Guide the speedometer cable back into the gear assembly and tighten the speedometer cable retainer by hand.

16

Start the engine and allow it to idle until the temperature gauge reaches the halfway point. Shift the gear shifter through all of the gears, pausing at each gear for two seconds. Pull the dipstick from the transmission and wipe the old fluid off of it with a clean, lint-free cloth. Reinsert the dipstick and remove it again. Verify that the transmission fluid level is between the L and F marks on the dipstick.

17

Insert a funnel into the dipstick tube and add Mercon transmission fluid until the fluid level between the L and F marks, if needed.

18

Take all old transmission fluid to a local fluid recycling center. Some auto parts stores take old fluids free of charge.

19

Drive the Aspire to an auto repair facility to have an alignment performed.