Oldsmobile/Buick Repair: Axel Shaft, olds alero, differential gear

Question
Hey hey,

need to do the drivers side axel shaft on my olds Alero.  After getting the wheel and hub out of the way, what else do I need to do to get the old one out and the new one in?

Thanks

Drew

Answer
Hi Drew,
I have never laid a hand on an Alero, but most axle shafts have a little snap ring in a groove in the shaft that just sits against a chamfer inside the differential gear, and needs to be "Popped" out, with a little pressure, and a little jar, or a slide hammer to kinda shock it out, so the ring just releases, and compresses into the groove that it is in.
A little reading at the library refference section to be sure would be a good idea, but you might just pry outward, and smack the shaft with a mallet.
Van