Half shaft replacement

[mike mcclurg]

Patient is an '89 100q. Have been noticing
increasingly worse vibration from front. Already
replaced tie rod ends. They were bad. Still had
vibration. Now notice that the left half shaft has
about 1/8 inch of free play lengthwise. Is this bad,
or rather how bad is this?
Figure it is best to replace the whole half shaft. $97
exchange through Advance Auto.
Couple questions:
1. The guy at the counter shows me the screen and both
left and right are the same. Family Album shows a
difference of exactly one in the parts code. Are they
truly the same, or close enough that one can fit
either side?
2. Do I simply have to loosen/remove the big bolt on
the end of the axle, then loosen/remove the
triple-square headed bolts at the other end and then
the shaft will come out? Bentley is not clear at all.
Oh yeah, I did read the note that says not to roll the
wheel with the axle out.
3. What is the size of the triple-square? Best place
to find them?
Thanks in advance,
Mike

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