Front Drive Shaft Removal

DRIVE SHAFT





COMPONENT

INSPECTION
BOOT





Check the boots on the driveshaft for cracks, damage, grease leakage or loose boot bands. If any damage is found, replace the boot.

SPLINE LOOSENESS





Turn the driveshaft by hand and check that the spline and joint are not excessively loose. If a damage is found or joint is loose, replace or repair.

TWISTED OR CRACKED





Check that the driveshaft is not twisted or cracked. Replace if necessary.

REMOVAL
1. Jack up the front of the chassis and support it with a safety stands.





2. Drain the transaxle oil.
3. Remove the front wheel and tire assemblies.
4. Raise the nut tab and loosen the driveshaft lock nut, but do not remove it.





NOTE: When loosening the nut, lock the hub by applying brakes.





5. Remove the tension rod mounting nuts.





6. Remove the ball joint clamp bolt and nut from the lower arm.





7. Pry down the lower arm and disconnect the ball-joint.

NOTE: Be careful not to damage the ball-joint dust boot.





8. Remove the stabilizer bar from the control link after loosening the control link nut.





9. Separate the driveshaft from the transaxle.

NOTE: Separate the shaft by pulling the hub outward. Do not use too much force at once, increase the force gradually. (If the shaft is pulled out too quickly, the oil seal may be damaged.)

10. Remove the driveshaft lock nut and discard.





11. Pull the driveshaft out of the wheel hub.

NOTE: Be especially careful not to damage the oil seal at this time.

12. Pull the driveshaft out of the transaxle. Discard the circlip.





13. Install the differential side gear holder into the transaxle to fix the side gear.

INSTALLATION
1. Install a new circlip on the inboard halfshaft end.





2. Lubricate the inboard end of the halfshaft with grease.
3. Install the inboard end of the halfshaft into the differential side gear.

CAUTION: Insert the halfshaft carefully so as not to damage the oil seal.

4. Lubricate the outboard end of the halfshaft with grease.





5. Insert the outboard end of the halfshaft into the wheel hub.

CAUTION: Insert the halfshaft carefully so as not to damage the oil seal.

6. Install a new halfshaft attaching nut onto the halfshaft and finger-tighten.





7. Push up the lower arm and reconnect the ball joint.

NOTE: Use caution to avoid damaging the ball joint dust boot.

8. Install the clamp nut and bolt on the lower arm.
9. Install a new driveshaft lock nut. Tighten to the specified torque and stake the lock nut, ensuring that it seats into the groove in the driveshaft.
Driveshaft lock nut: 116 - 174 ft. lbs. (157 - 234 Nm, 16 - 24 kgf-cm)
Knuckle to lower arm ball-joint: 40 - 50 ft. lbs. (54 - 68 Nm, 5.5 - 6.9 kgf-cm)
10. Install the stabilizer bar to the control link.
Tightening torque: 32 - 45 ft. lbs. (43 - 60.8 Nm, 14.4 - 6.2 kgf-cm)





11. Install the tension rod mounting bracket nuts and tighten.
12. Install the front wheel.

NOTE:
^ After installation, pull the front hub outward to check that the driveshaft does not come out.
^ Do not stake the lock nut with a pointed tool.
^ Check that the wheel hub can be turned smoothly by hand.





13. Refill the transaxle with the specified grade and quantity of transaxle oil.