...do a 5-Speed Swap?

[Chris A]

I wouldn't even mess with the 4 bolts in the hub. Save yourself the trouble and get the big socket. Usually the splined shaft will slide out of the hub, but sometimes you need to tap it. Once in many many axle operation I had one get stuck so bad i had to whack the crap out of it with a hammer. My HUGE puller wouldn't get it out.

As for getting the axles out of the tranny,  I usually use a long pry bar. You have to be careful though you do not pry on the trans case and bend it. I also use the pry bar to tap the axle from behind with a hammer. I rarely use a slide hammer to get the axles out.

BY NO MEANS AM I SAYING THAT JOSHUA'S METHODS ARE WRONG!

I'm just saying what i've gotten used to and has worked well for me! :)
A shaft change on a TGP goes pretty fast for me. Undo the balljoint nut, pop it loose, undo the spindle nut (with my cordless impact of course) grab the  caliaper and pull the hub/strut assy out as the shaft splines slide out, set that end out of the way and pop out the other end

[visusens]

Thanks for the help guys!!! I managed to get the shafts out tonight and I am ready to start unbolting the transmission itself, Is there anything that would be qa hinderance to me getting to the bell housing bolts, crossover pipe maybe? Anyone have a pretty smoth technique for this stage?

[TGPilot]

Hey Barry...

I dropped the entire sub-frame out of the car with the motor, tranny, and struts connected. It is a bit more work but saves alot of it in the end too! Without everything out of the way your are going to play hell trying to mount the hydralic clutch assembly to the firewall. I had everything out of the way to include hanging the PMIII off to the side which made it much easier to shape the hole. There is a hidden bolt that threads in from the passengers side of the bell housing down between the block and the tranny if I remember correctly... 8)

[twinturbosedan]

i pulled my engine and tranny together right out the top and seperated them when i had it sitting on the gargage floor.  seemed really easy that way.
joshua