Crimp clamps are used to avoid balance issues and boot damage.

I will make a video documenting this procedure in a slightly different manner, and showing an axle that will not separate short of total destruction.

You MUST use a Heavy Brass drift to drive the joint off, and get the impact angle/pressure just right, a steel drift will wreck the spider, balls or race/cup.




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What, exactly, keeps that spider joint in place on the shaft? He shows tapping it off and lightly pressing it back in place...........???

A very clever/nasty snap-ring.

However, the video doesn't show the snap ring removal or installation............???

is there really a snap ring?
I didn't find one in any of my two joints
maybe its in the other side of the joint, the other side (side that goes to the wheel) is not removable maybe thats the side that has the snap ring ?
when I removed both of my joints I didn't find one (I even made sure to look in the inside of it/shake it after I removed it) there's no grove either in the shaft for a snap ring

total destruction ???? our car has been running for 11 months now almost an year with four brand new Mercedes Benz boots

yep steel would be a bad idea and by they way even with the brass drift you don't want it to touch the balls or anything and cause scratches that might wear them out so its important to keep the drift firmly on the spider and make sure it doesn't drift about