Need to change my CV

Hey all, I need to change my drivers side CV on a 3/4 ton 2001 LT.  I have done that on a smaller FWd car before but never on a full size IFS truck. I am quite a decent shadetree mechanic; I pretty much refuse to have others do my mechanic work. The question is, what special tools will I need for the job. I haven't looked at it yet, will I need a hydraulic press, slide hammer, ball joint seperator or anything like that or is it simple nuts and bolts. I know, I know I need to grab a Haynes for the truck, but its rather new to me and have not gotten one yet.... Please advise....
 
Thanks

Tommygunz,
   If it's the same as a 1/2 ton it's not to bad of a job. I first loosened the big nut in the center of the hub (before I took the weight off the wheel), jacked up the vehicle, took off the wheel and shock. Then removed the nut in the hub, then the nuts holding the axle to the differential. It took some patience, but it came out.
  I replaced the axle and CV joints ( I didn't rebuild the CV joint). Not a real difficult job.
 
Good Luck, Dondobe 

Sounds good, I have a pretty consistant hum from it right now in 2WD, when 4WD is engaged it hums pretty loudly, obviously from the extra torque applied to the joint. I also beleive it is the cause of my vibration from that area above 70 MPH. Will change in a few weks when I get the cash and time. I will do a nice DIY write up for the site when it's complete. If anyone has any more pointers I would be glad to hear them.

It could also be a bad wheel bearing so keep that in mind.

Right, I was planning on doing bearings at the same time. Kinda makes sense. I have always lived by the motto that if you access a bearing assembly doing maintenance, replace or repack it.

Tommygunz,
  I believe your going to find out that the hub assembly has to be changed in order to change the bearings. I think it's a sealed unit. They are expensive ($200 +) each. I would do the CV joints first and see if the problem goes away first before you spend that kind of money and time  not knowing.
 
Good Luck, Dondobe

Oh.... very good, thanks

Most likely the humming is the wheel bearing. If you ask around some shop do front end inspection for free.

Well, climbed under my truck ofr the first time to really inspect things. It is neither the outer bearing our the cv. Both feel very solid and look well. I did chase down the vibration though. It seems to be eminating from the differential. Has anyone had this occurance? Can any technical guru's put my mind at ease and tell me everything will be alright? I lifted the passenger side to see if it would make the same noise and it did not. At low speeds with the windows down I can hear some light clanking, noise seems to go away at slightly higher speeds but anything above about 70 mph and I get light vibration from the front end. If its just a bearing assembly I can probably deal with that, but if I have to dig into that differential I don't think I will be happy. I let a little fluid out, it seemed possibly burnt and a bit thin. I am going to attempt a gear fluid swap before any parts hoping that its all coming from incorrect lubrication and too thin of fluid. Someone please help.......

Usually when there is noise like you describe it is either a bad pinion bearing or damaged pinion and/or ring gear.

Drain the differential lubricant and carefully inspect it for metal chips, then report back.

Even when the noise is only producable on one side of the differential?? I ill drain and examine soon....

I dare to say the issue may be resolved. I chnged the differetial fluid with some Royal Purple Gear lube. There was evidence of very fine metal shavings. There was also some metal sludge stuck to the magnetic drain plug. I drained, filled with on quart and drained again to remove any particulate and refilled to spec with Royal Purple 75/90. All low speed indications are gone, no metal on metal, no tapping or clicking. I went to a large dirt parking lot and tried to get the front end to "groan" at speed as it used to and it would not do that. Then I took it out on the freeway an dwas doing up to 90 mph with no noticable vibration as there was befroe over 75 mph. While I beleive there was and still may be a small gear issue, having the correct weight and viscosity fluid in the case is definitely helping. I guess we'll see in a few thousand miles how often I have to change that fluid. If I get more buildup or not.