How to change / remove the rear axle

In kart racing, it isn’t always necessary to change the rear axle in your kart, but in some instances, you may be forced to, so these are the steps to take to remove your rear axle:

Remove Rear Hubs
Generally most karts will use a 6mm pinch bolt in the rear hub. Loosen the bolt and slide off the end of the axle. Be mindful that the keyway and any hub spacers could fall onto the ground when this step is taking place.
Loosen the engine mount
If your kart has a slide engine mount, just loosen the two middle 8mm pinch bolts and that is enough to slide the engine back so you can remove the chain. If your kart doesn’t have the slide mount, simply loosen the two 8mm bolts holding the engine mount together, so it can be slid towards the rear of the kart.
Slide engine back and remove chain from sprocket
Once the tension has slackened off from the chain, remove from the sprocket and slide off the end of the axle.
Undo sprocket carrier and slide off
Using the same tool as the rear hubs, loosen pinch bolt and slide off the end of the axle. This can be a place where grease builds up and makes it difficult to simply slide off. By using a screwdriver in the slot of the carrier and a hammer, tap the end of the screwdriver to help remove the carrier from the axle. If you’re having difficulty in this step, it is a good idea to clean the area once removed so the re installation is an easier process.
Loosen brake disc hub

Same 6mm bolt used as the carrier and hubs, this just needs to be loosened.

Remove axle grub screws
Depending on chassis manufacturer the standard axle grub screws are a 4mm bolt. You can loosen enough so they are not touching the axle, or you can remove them completely. It’s advised upon re-fitting the axle to try tightening these grub screws in the same position as you removed them to not encounter additional markings on the axle.
Apply the Brake pedal
If you’re by yourself, grab a cable tie, and place the brake pedal on. Once engaged, wrap the cable tie around the pedal and the crash-bar and tighten to engage the brakes. This will stop the brake disc from falling out when removing the axle.
Slide rear axle out

If the kart is clean, this process should be as simple as some gentle force to remove the axle (always remove to the engine side). If you’re finding there is some tension, a rubber mallet can be used to tap it out.

The re installation of the rear axle can be achieved by starting at step 8 and working your way back to step 1. Things to keep in mind are:

Making sure the brake disc is centralised so that the pads aren’t rubbing on one side. Spin the axle a few times, apply the brakes then once released tighten the pinch bolt.
Try fit grub screws in same spot as previous marks if they are visible.
Tighten the brake disc hub, as this is sometimes forgotten
Realign the sprocket carrier / rear sprocket with front sprocket so there is no tension on the chain.

How to change your rear axle

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