I am desperate for some help here. Replacing passenger side axle on a F56 Mini. For the life of me I can't get the axle to go any further into the tranny, and the splines aren't connecting, and the center shaft carrier bolt holes don't line up - confirms axle is not all the way in.

I used the rubber seal (that comes with the rubber handle to protect the splines while lining up) and tapped it with a large socket so it was FLUSH with the outside case of tranny (see photo). Is this seated right??

Seems like this seal in this position is keeping the axle from going in any further. I even cut the old axle with a band saw to see what was going on (see other photo) - the axle will not go any further and it's not reach the inside splines of the tranny.

I am almost ready to pull the seal out and put the axle right back in. There wasn't any seal that came out with the old axle???

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

I know this is old but what was the solution? I’m possibly replacing my right side axle on my Auto Cooper S soon. I also wanted to ask, did you have to drain the trans fluid like they do on the manual or was it fine since it’s auto.

 

I did not have to drain any tranny fluid while doing the passenger side. Seemed to be all sealed on the passenger side. Don't install that stupid rubber seal like i had in the photo above (that came with the shaft). Looking back the passenger side wasn't all that bad to do.

I now need to do the drivers side. Not looking forward to getting this one out of the tranny. Any suggestions? Slid hammer, or is there an "axle puller" people have used? Anyone have a parts list for the drivers side - rubber rings, C clips etc etc.

 

 

Update - did the drivers side. Ordered way to many parts as the axle pretty much came with 90% of what you need. I bought off amazon the slide hammer axle puller & a set of those brass looking forks to remove the axle. Maybe I got luck, but i guess it took about 1 hour to get my drivers side out, and most of that was me trying to figure out how to get that slide hammer setup.
I started with the two brass looking forks. Grabbed the thinner on and little mini sledge and started hitting it. Its was moving out slow, but wasn't sure these would do the trick. I then grabbed the slide hammer axle puller. Man i had a heck of a time trying to get the shoe around the axle and keep the slide hammer straight. I guess you could remove the caliper and disc, but i wasn't there yet. I then tried the cable attachment on the slide hammer, again couldn't get it setup right (probably me). While i was wasting my time....I had sprayed the heck out of the tranny and axle with PB Blaster. I then went back to the two forks. Started hitting the axle again, and got it to where the thick fork would fit. Put that in there, and hit it like 10x POP - axle came out.
No fluid came out.
OH! It took me a much time to remove the oil seal (was scared to damage anything) as it did to remove the axle LOL!

Me, it took about 6 hours. 2 days at 3 hours each over my friends place who has a big lift. Now i am going back and forth for beer and smokes and watch TV also. So somebody who has better focus and more skill could knock this out.
Hope this helps anyone in the future.