Front Drive Shaft Assembly Rebuild

FRONT DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY





COMPONENT

NOTE:
^ Clamp the shaft in a vice. Use protectors in the vice to avoid damage. Do not allow dust or foreign material to enter the joint during disassembly or assembly.
^ Do not disassemble the ball-joint at the wheel side. Do not wipe off the grease if there is no problem.
^ Do not remove the clip used to secure the tripod joint to the differential side gear if there is no problem. If the clip is removed, replace it with a new one.

DISASSEMBLY
1. Clamp the halfshaft in a vise. Do not allow the vise to contact the boot or its clamps.





2. Remove the large boot clamp. Side cutters can be used to cut the clamp. After removing the clamp, roll the boot back over the shaft.





3. Remove the wire ring bearing retainer.





4. Mark the matching mars on the spider and tripod housing

NOTE: Mark with a paint, do not use a punch.





5. Remove the outer race.
6. Make the matching marks on the drive shaft end and spider.





7. Remove the tripod joint snap ring.





8. Tap the boss with a hammer and rod to remove the spider assembly

CAUTION: Do not tap on the rollers.





NOTE: If the boot is to be reused, wrap the halfshaft splines with a tape before removing it from the shaft.





If necessary, remove the small boot clamp and the CV joint boot from the halfshaft.

INSPECTION
Check the following parts
1. Twisted or cracked driveshaft.
2. Worn splines.
3. Excessively loose joint.





4. Cracked or damaged boots.

ASSEMBLY
1. Install the tripod assembly on the halfshaft.





2. Tap the assembly onto the shaft by using a hammer and brass drift.
3. Install the tripod assembly retaining ring.
4. Fill the CV joint outer race with 3.5 oz. (100 mg) of the specified grease.





5. Install the outer race over the tripod joint and install the wire ring bearing retainer.
6. Position the CV joint boot. Make sure the boot is fully seated in the grooves in the shaft and outer race.





7. Extend or compress the joint as necessary until the distance between the CV joint boot clamp grooves measures 2.66 inch (67.5 mm).





8. Insert a dulled screwdriver blade between the boot and the outer bearing race to allow trapped air to escape from the boot.
9. Install new boot clamp(s) wrap the clamps around the boots in a clockwise direction, pull tight with pliers, and bend the locking tabs to secure in position.

NOTE:
^ Always use new bands.
^ Bands should install so that their pointed ends initially point in forward direction of rotation.

10. Using a boot band tool, place pincer jaws in closing hooks of boot band.





11. Secure clamp by drawing closing closing hooks together.





12. After assembling the driveshaft, check to make sure the joint parts move smoothly in the directions indicated by the arrows. Check the boots for grease leaks or damage.