I need to remove the outend of the drive axle and am having troubles getting the axle out of the hub. Every other place has indicated that it just slides nicely out with little or no force. However on this vehicle that is not the case. Could there be something that I missed or is this just stubborn. It is on a 2001 Kia Rio driver side axle with a standard transmission.

first up jack up the vehicle and remove the damaged wheel
fit the spare tire and then place an indicator ( rod on a brick ) close to the rim of the spare and turn the wheel
if the axle of hub is bent you will see the rim get closer then further away from the indicator as you turn the wheel
if it is , replace the axle and bearings
if not there will be no axle damage but the bearing could be "brinnelled "( a bearing term where the balls or rollers have been imprinted into the race from impact) in which bearing failure will become evident in 10-20,000 miles
next step is to go and get a rear end wheel alignment done as there could be suspension damage that will cause handling and tire wear problems

to remove front axle.to loosen front axle nut leave vechicle weight on wheel then just loosen front axle nut because axle nut torque at 217 ft lbs torquehard to loose axle nut with vechicle weight off wheel.okay. you need a 1/2 breaker bar and axle socket to loosen axle nut dont use 12 points sockets need go auto parts store buy right socket for axle nut.okay when you loosen front axle nut you need safely raise support vechicle. need to remove wheels remove fender apron seal remove transaxle fluid remove transfercase oil if you have 4WD.remove hub nut remove stabilizer bar link remove speed sensor remove tie rod end remove lower arm from the ball joint then slide the halfshaft from the hub then carefully pry the shaft from the transaxle.then install new front axle push in make sure front axle snap ring on front axle snap in place inside transmission just pull a little on front axle make its in place. when all done tighten front axle much as you can then when done putting every thing back in place.lower vechicle need torque front axle nut to 217 ft lbs.

1. Raise and support vehicle, then remove tire and wheel assembly. 2. Install a brass drift or a screwdriver to prevent the rotor from turning, Fig. 7 . 3. Remove axle nut and washer. 4. Remove stabilizer shaft or link from control arm. 5. Remove nut from ball joint, then separate ball joint from steering knuckle using separator tool No. J-36226, or equivalent. 6. Remove drive axle from hub and bearing assembly using front hub spindle remover tool No. J-28733-A, or equivalent, Fig. 8 . 7. Remove drive axle from transaxle using axle shaft remover puller tool Nos. J-33008, J-29794 and slide hammer tool No. J-2619-01, or equivalents, if necessary, Fig. 9 . INSTALLATION 1. Install drive axle into the transaxle using seal protector J-37292-B, or equivalent 2. Seat snap ring by placing a screwdriver into the groove on the joint housing and tapping until seated, Fig. 9 . 3. Grasp the inner housing and pull outward. If the snap ring is properly seated, the axle will remain in place. 4. Install drive axle into hub and bearing assembly. 5. Install lower ball joint to steering knuckle and tighten to specifications. 6. Install stabilizer shaft or link to control arm, tighten to specifications. 7. Insert a screwdriver or drift into caliper and rotor to prevent rotor from turning, Fig. 7 . 8. Install new hub nut and washer, tighten to specification. 9. Install tire and wheel assembly, then lower vehicle

It's not too involved. Here's a link with some more information to change it:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/repairinfo/repairguide/repairGuideContent.jsp?pageId=0900c1528025fae3

you will need a big socket (20 or 21 mm) and 1/2 inch drive to remove axle nut and torque wrench to reinstall. The book DOES call for a special tool to get the hub off the axle, but I have never used one before.

Removal & Installation

1. Raise and support the vehicle.
2. Remove the wheel.
3. Remove the wheel drive shaft nut.
4. Remove the brake caliper and wire aside.
5. Remove the brake rotor.
6. Disconnect the electrical connector from the wheel speed sensor.
7. Remove the wheel speed sensor connector from the bracket by depressing the locking tabs.
8. Remove the 3 hub and bearing assembly bolts.
9. Install Wheel Hub Removal tool J-42129 to the hub and bearing assembly in order to remove the hub and bearing assembly from the wheel drive shaft.
10. Remove the hub and bearing assembly from the steering knuckle.

To install:

1. Install the hub and bearing assembly to the steering knuckle.
2. Install the 3 hub and bearing assembly bolts and tighten to 85 ft. lbs. (115 Nm).
3. Install the wheel speed sensor connector into the bracket until the locking tabs click into place.
4. Connect the electrical connector to the wheel speed sensor.
5. Install the axle nut to the wheel drive shaft and hand tighten.
6. Install the brake rotor.
7. Use a screw driver or similar tool to stop the rotation of the brake rotor.
8. Tighten the wheel drive shaft nut to 159 ft. lbs. (215 Nm).
9. Install the brake caliper.
10. Install the tire and wheel.

Actually, it’s a bit involved, but you can do it.
Loosen the wheel lug nuts, raise the vehicle and support it securely on jack stands. Remove the wheel and install two lug nuts with 3mm washers under them to hold the disc in place (if the two disc retaining screws are still in place, this will be unnecessary)
Remove the brake caliper. It is not necessary to disconnect the brake hose. After removing the caliper bolts, suspend the caliper out of the way with a piece of wire. Remove the two caliper mounting bracket to steering knuckle bolts.
Remove the drive axle hub nut. To prevent the hub from turning, put a pry bar between two of the wheel studs and against the ground, then loosen the nut.
Remove the cotter pin and loosen the lower ball joint nut about three full turns. Don’t remove it. Separate the lower control arm from the steering knuckle (you’ll need to get or rent a two-jaw puller for that).
Swing the knuckle/hub assembly out away from the car and push the drive axle through the hub assembly until the end of the drive axle is free of the hub. The shaft on the end of the drive axle is often hard to dislodge from the hub, so you may have to tap the outer end of the shaft with a soft mallet until it pulls easily out of the hub.
After the hub and axle are separated, support the outer end of the drive axle with a piece of wire to avoid unnecessary stain on the CV joint.
Remove the four bolts that hold the hub and brake disc assembly to the steering knuckle and remove the hub and disc.
Put a pry bar or something like one between two of the wheel studs to keep the whole thing from turning as you maybe put your feet against the bar, and then remove the four bolts that hold the disc to the hub assembly. Then you will have your disc. Installation is the reverse.
I hope this helps you. Give yourself plenty to time to deal with it.

I'll try to help you. If you are having trouble with 3 out of 5 studs on one wheel you may want to go to an autoparts store or Salvage yard to look at the whole hub. Usually a press is used to remove the bolts so you would be taking off the hub anyway. When you pay for 3 bolts and labor you may be better off in a Salvage yard or parts place for a different hub. The rear hub on front wheel drive cars is like a trailer axle. Much simpler to remove mounting bolts and press in new bolt. But if rear has differential(rear wheel drive) it has an axle shaft. Would be easier to grind and drill out broken stud on car. You can draw new bolt into place by placing bolt through a socket and use the wheel nut to draw the bolt into the hub.

1. Loosen the wheel nuts and the center axle nut.
2. Raise the vehicle and safely support it.
3. Remove the wheel. Remove the ABS speed sensor if so equipped.
4. Unclamp the brake hose from the shock absorber, but do not disconnect the line.
5. Remove the brake caliper and hang it out of the way on a piece of stiff wire. Do not disconnect the brake line; do not allow the caliper to hang by the hose.
6. Remove the brake disc.
7. Place a dial indicator near the center of the axle hub, and check the backlash in the bearing shaft direction. Maximum is 0.0020 inch (0.05mm). If the backlash exceeds the maximum, replace the bearing.
   1. Usiung a dial; indicator, check the deviation at the surface of the axle hub outside the hub bolt. Maximum is 0.0028 inch (0.07mm). If the deviation exceeds the maximum, replace the axle hub.
   2. Install the disc and caliper. Tighten to 65 ft. lbs. (88 Nm).
8. Remove the cotter pin and install the wheel. Lower the vehicle to the ground.
9. Remove the lock nut cap. While depressing the brake pedal, remove the center axle nut.
10. Raise and support the vehicle again and remove the wheel, caliper and disc.
11. Loosen the 2 nuts on the lower side of the shock absorber. Do not remove the 2 nuts and bolts.
12. Remove the cotter pin and nut from the tie rod end.
13. Remove the tie rod end from the knuckle using a joint separator or equivalent.
14. Remove the bolt and 2 nuts holding the bottom of the ball joint to the control arm and separate the arm from the knuckle.
15. Remove the 2 nuts from the steering knuckle. Place a protective cover or shield over the CV boot on the driveshaft.
16. Using a plastic mallet, tap the driveshaft free of the hub assembly.
17. Remove the bolts and remove the axle hub assembly.
18. 1. Clamp the knuckle in a vise with protected jaws.
    2. Remove the dust deflector. Loosen the nut holding the ball joint to the knuckle. Use a ball joint separator tool or equivalent to loosen and remove the joint
    3. Use a slide hammer/extractor to remove the outer oil seal.
    4. Remove the snapring.
    5. Using a hub puller and pilot tools or equivalents, pull the axle hub from the knuckle.
    6. Remove the brake splash shield (3 bolts).
    7. Use a split plate bearing remover, puller pilot and a shop press, remove the inner bearing race from the hub.
    8. Remove the inner oil seal with the same tools used to remove the outer seal.
    
    To install:
    
    1. Place the inner race in the bearing. Support the knuckle and use an axle hub remover with a plastic mallet to drive out the bearing.
    2. Clean and inspect all parts but do not wash or clean the wheel bearing; it cannot be repacked. If the bearing is damaged or noisy, it must be replaced.
    3. Press a new bearing race into the steering knuckle using a bearing driver of the correct size.
    4. Place a new bearing inner race on the hub bearing.
    5. Insert the side lip of a new oil seal into the seal installer and drive the oil seal into the steering knuckle.
    6. Apply multi-purpose grease to the oil seal lip.
    7. Apply sealer to the brake splash shield and install the shield.
    8. Use a hub installer to press the hub into the steering knuckle.
    9. Install a new snapring into the hub.
    10. Using a seal installer of the correct size, install a new outer oil seal into the steering knuckle.
    11. Apply multi-purpose grease to the seal surfaces which will contact the driveshaft.
    12. Support the knuckle and drive in a new dust deflector.
    13. Install the ball joint into the knuckle and tighten the nut to 105 ft. lbs. (142). Install NEW cotter pin.
    14. Temporarily install the hub assembly to the lower control arm and fit the driveaxle into the hub.
    15. Install the knuckle to strut bolts, then attach the tie rod end to the knuckle.
    16. Tighten the strut bracket nuts to 203 ft. lbs. (275 Nm) and tighten the tie rod end nut to 36 ft. lbs. (49 Nm). Install the NEW cotter pin.
    17. Connect the ball joint to the lower control arm and tighten the nuts to 105 ft. lbs. (142 Nm).
    18. Install the brake disc.
    19. Attach the brake caliper to the knuckle and tighten the bolts to 65 ft. lbs. (88 Nm).
    20. Install the center nut and washer on the drive axle.
    21. Install the ABS speed sensor if so equipped. Install the wheel
    22. Lower the car to the ground.
    23. Tighten the wheel nuts to 76 ft. lbs. (103 Nm). Tighten the hub nut while depressing the brake pedal to 137 ft. lbs. (186 Nm) on 1988-91 models and 152 ft. lbs. (206 Nm) on 1992-97 models. Install the cap and cotter pin.
    24. Remove the protective cover from the CV boot. Check front wheel alignment

RAVE says the following:
1) Release ABS Sensor harness grommet from inner wing valance and disconnect multi plug.
2) Raise front of vehicle.
3) Remove road wheel.
4) Pull ABS Sensor harness through aperture into wheel arch.
5) Release harness from brackets on inner wing valance, suspension turret and front hub.
6) Release stake from drive shaft nut
7) Remove drive shaft nut with assistance & discard.
8) Remove front brake disk (Remove calliper, pad holder, screw and tap to remove)
9) Remove 4 bolts securing wheel hub to steering knuckle.
10) Release wheel hub from steering knuckle then remove wheel hub and drive shaft assembly from axle. DO NOT REMOVE ABS SENSOR FROM HUB. HUB AND SENSOR ARE SUPPLIED AS AN ASSEMBLY.
11) Position the wheel hub and drive shaft on a press, place supports beneath the wheel studs and press the drive shaft from the wheel hub.
12) Remove drive shaft oil seal from axle casing.

Refit is mostly the reverse, you need to take care to lubricate things in the right places and put loctite on the drive shaft and locate the loom and torque everything right.

you need to remove the bolt on the ball joint and lower it after you gonna have enought place to remove the cv joint thanks pierre