I need to replace the drivers side half shaft....What do I need to do or where can I find the instructions to do this? I need to replace this myself any ideas on how I go about this? any special tools?

I have changed my head gaskets, timing belts, o2 sensors, outer wheel bearing, so nothing surprises me...

Thank you in advance for your help!

Before you get carried away...I would check the Needle bearing. Unless you know for sure it's the half shaft.
Little cheaper than one that's for sure.
Check out this post Front End Noise.

If it is the 1/2 shaft, KRAGEN sells them for $65+ core charge. ROCKAUTO is only $50 + core but you will have to pay for shipping.

Hope you can get some good help.
Everet

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It is the half shaft, cuz I replaced the passenger side in Feb but paid to have that done, now gonna try and do this on my own since it's costly....Any one with any ideas on getting started with this? And special tools I need? Any ideas where I can find a diagram for this on the site? or anyone got a good inside to this?

From my service manual,

1, Remove six bolts and take off free wheel hub body.
2, Using snap ring pliers, remove axle snap ring retainer and spacer.
3, Pry out fixed cam assembly. (this is with the hub)
4, Remove 2 bolts and remove brake caliper from brake rotor. temporarily tie caliper to vehicle frame with wire.
5, Remove upper control arm link lock bolt, spring washer (lock washer) and nut.
6, Remove tierod end cotter pin and using a ball joint puller, remove tierod end from steerint knuckle.
7, Loosen the drop link lower lock nut. (strut fork)
8, Loosen the drop link upper four lock nuts.
9, Using a rubber hammer, open up the drop link fork. (I have had to use a small sledge and a big drift on mine)
10, Mark halfshaft for identical instillation position. (I don't know that this is nessary installing a new one)
11, Using suitable tool (pry bar or big screwdriver), pry halfshaft form differential housing.

Assembly in reverce order. Push in new half shaft intill you hear a click and make sure it does not just pull out easy.

The manual has illistrations but you should be able to do it without them. Just take your time and pay attention how it came apart and you should be able to do it.

Hope this helps, Dennis

Thanks much dennis....I will give it a whirl next weekend....Hopefully I can do this without problems. I will just take pictures as I go also, since that is what I did with the head gasket. took 3.5 hours but only spent 7.00 on the gasket, svaed me a ton. Anyone else with any helpful hints......

hi Kelly,

Just a thought I don't think you did a head gasket, I know you talked about it, but after you told me you did not remove the belts and drain the antifrezze. I believe you replace the valve cover gasket, sorry I can not help with the cv axle shaft. To much happening right now, about $2000 going into repairs on my wifes 1.8L turbo bug, work closeing our Division very soon good old unemployment again, bills going up and pay going down. Plus I got a call Saturday night my dad died that evening will just have to wait and see what is going on. I was doing something under the Kia and I notice my muffer tube just passed the flange was just hanging have to see if the flange can be cut off and about 4 or 5 inch tube can be welded in to join them back together.