Installation
CAUTION: The inboard tripod joint retaining circlip and O-ring seal on the transaxle stub shaft are not re-usable. Whenever the inboard tripod joint is removed from the stub shaft, the retaining circlip and O-ring seal MUST BE REPLACED. The retaining circlip and O-ring seal is included in all service kits requiring removal of the inboard tripod joint from the stub shaft.
1. Replace O-ring seal and tripod joint retaining circlip on the transaxle stub shaft.
2. Evenly apply a bead of grease, such as MOPAR Multi-Purpose Lubricant or an equivalent, around spline of inner tripod joint where the O-ring seats against tripod joint. This will spread grease onto stub shaft during tripod joint installation preventing corrosion and help to seal the O-ring.
3. Install driveshaft through hole in splash shield. Grasp inner tripod joint in one hand and interconnecting shaft in the other. Align inner tripod joint spline with stub shaft spline on transaxle. Use a rocking motion with the inner tripod joint, to get it past the circlip on the transaxle stub shaft.
4. Continue pushing tripod joint onto transaxle stub shaft until it stops moving. The O-ring seal on the stub should not be visible when inner tripod joint is fully installed on stub shaft. To check that inner tripod joint retaining circlip is locked into tripod joint, grasp inner tripod joint and pull on it by hand. If circlip is locked into tripod joint, tripod joint will not move on stub shaft.
CAUTION: When installing outer C/V joint into the hub and bearing assembly, do not allow the flinger disk on hub and bearing assembly to become damaged. Damage to the flinger disk can cause dirt and water intrusion into bearing and premature bearing failure.
5. Hold outer C/V joint assembly with one hand. Grasp steering knuckle with other hand and rotate it out and to the rear of the vehicle. Install outer C/V joint into the hub and bearing assembly.
6. Install the top of the steering knuckle into the strut assembly. Align the steering knuckle to strut assembly mounting holes.
CAUTION: The strut assembly to steering knuckle bolts are serrated where they go through strut assembly and steering knuckle. When installing bolts, turn nuts onto bolts. DO NOT TURN BOLTS IN STEERING KNUCKLE. If bolts are turned, damage to steering knuckle will result.
7. Install the strut assembly to steering knuckle attaching bolts. Install nuts on attaching bolts. Tighten the strut assembly to steering knuckle bolt nuts to 169 Nm (125 ft. lbs.). TURN NUTS ON BOLTS. DO NOT TURN BOLTS.
CAUTION: The hub and bearing assembly to stub shaft retaining nut is a prevailing torque nut and can not be refused. A NEW retaining nut MUST be used when assembled.
8. Install a NEW hub and bearing assembly to stub shaft retaining nut. Tighten, but do not torque the hub nut at this time.
9. Install speed sensor cable routing bracket on front strut assembly. Install and securely tighten routing bracket screw.
10. Install the braking disk on the hub and bearing assembly.
11. Install front brake caliper over braking disc and align with caliper mounting holes on steering knuckle. Refer to Brakes and Traction Control for caliper installation procedure. Install the caliper to steering knuckle bolts. Tighten bolts to 19 Nm (168 inch lbs.).
12. Install wheel and tire assembly on vehicle. Tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts in proper sequence, until all nuts are tightened to half specification. Then repeat the tightening sequence to the full specified torque of 129 Nm (95 ft. lbs.).
13. Lower vehicle to the ground.
CAUTION: When tightening hub and bearing assembly to stub shaft retaining nut, do not exceed the maximum torque of 163 Nm (120 ft. lbs.). If the maximum torque is exceeded this may result in a failure of the driveshaft.
14. Apply the vehicle's brakes to keep vehicle from moving. Tighten the NEW stub shaft to hub and bearing assembly retaining nut to 163 Nm (120 ft. lbs.).