Rear Axle Came Out during wheel bearing/wheel carrier removal

[PeteV]

My car was in an accident (long story), and the rear wheel carrier was damaged to the point that it needed to be replaced. I went through the process of unbolting the wheel carrier from all of the control arms, parking break, speed sensor, etc. I was trying to get the wheel carrier off, and the whole axle pulled out of the differential along with it. I DID NOT unbolt anything at the diff, so wondering if something was broken by the force of the wheel hitting the curb at a speed enough to break the wheel carrier. Can anyone offer me any insight as to why the whole axle would come out of the differential so easily?

[pbonsalb]

You can pull them out pretty easily. Just a little detent ring holding them in. When the suspension is attached, they should not have enough movement to pop out.

[deansbimmer]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

You can pull them out pretty easily. Just a little detent ring holding them in. When the suspension is attached, they should not have enough movement to pop out.

This.