Axle Shaft: Service and Repair
If removing both right and left side halfshafts, plugs T81P-1177-B or equivalent must be installed. Failure to do so may result in dislocation of differential side gears, necessitating transaxle disassembly to realign the gears. Also, halfshaft removal and installation procedures are the same for automatic and manual transaxles except for the following: due to the automatic transaxle case configuration, the right side halfshaft and linkshaft must be removed first. Tool T81P-4026-A or equivalent is then inserted into transaxle to remove left side inner Constant Velocity (CV) joint assembly from transaxle. If only the left side halfshaft is being removed from the vehicle, remove right side halfshaft assembly from the transaxle case and secure it in a horizontal position to the underside of vehicle, then remove left side halfshaft assembly.
Whenever removed, the hub nut, lower control arm-to-steering knuckle attaching nut and bolt and inboard CV joint stub shaft circlip must be replaced as their torque holding ability is destroyed during removal.
1. Loosen hub nut and lug nuts, then raise and support front of vehicle.
2. Remove wheel and tire assemblies, then remove hub nut and washer and discard nut.
3. Remove and discard lower ball joint-to-steering knuckle attaching nut and pinch bolt, then using suitable pry bar, separate ball joint from steering knuckle. When separating ball joint from steering knuckle, use caution to avoid cutting or damaging ball joint boot.
4. Remove stabilizer bar link at stabilizer bar.
5. To remove right side halfshaft and linkshaft from all except models equipped with Automatic Overdrive Transaxle (AOD), proceed as follows:
a. Remove bearing support-to-bracket attaching bolts, then slide link shaft out of transaxle. Support end of shaft in horizontal position with suitable wire. Do not allow shaft to hang unsupported as damage to the outboard CV joint can result.
Fig. 1 Separating front hub from outer CV joint:
Fig. 2 Inboard CV joint removal tools. Exc. models equipped w/AOD:
b. Separate hub assembly from outer CV joint using hub remover T81P-1104-C, adapters T83P-1104-BH, T86P-1104-A1 and T81P-1104-A or equivalent, Fig. 1. Never use a hammer to separate hub assembly from outer CV joint as damage to the CV joint threads and internal components may result.
c. Remove right side halfshaft and linkshaft from vehicle as an assembly.
6. To remove both halfshafts on models equipped with Automatic Overdrive Transaxle (AOD) or left side halfshaft on models equipped with manual transaxle, proceed as follows:
a. Turn steering hub to one side or wire and/or wire strut assembly aside.
b. Using puller tools shown in Fig. 2, attached to the inboard side of the inboard CV joint, remove CV joint from transaxle.
c. Support end of shaft in horizontal position with suitable wire. Do not allow shaft to hang unsupported as damage to the outboard CV joint can result.
d. Separate hub assembly from outer CV joint using hub remover T81P-1104-C, adapters T83P-1104-BH, T86P-1104-A1 and T81P-1104-A or equivalent, Fig. 1. Never use a hammer to separate hub assembly from outer CV joint as damage to the CV joint threads and internal components may result.
e. Remove halfshaft from vehicle.
7. To remove left side halfshaft from models equipped with automatic transaxle (exc. AOD), proceed as follows. If removing both right and left side halfshafts, plugs T81P-1177-B or equivalent must be installed. Failure to do so may result in dislocation of differential side gears, necessitating transaxle disassembly to realign the gears.
a. Remove right side halfshaft assembly from the transaxle case and secure it in a horizontal position to the underside of vehicle, then remove left side halfshaft by inserting driver T81P-4026-A or equivalent into right side halfshaft opening and driving left side halfshaft and CV joint from transaxle.
b. Support end of shaft in horizontal position with suitable wire. Do not allow shaft to hang unsupported as damage to the outboard CV joint can result.
c. Separate hub assembly from outer CV joint using hub remover T81P-1104-C, adapters T83P-1104-BH, T86P-1104-A1 and T81P-1104-A or equivalent, Fig. 1. Never use a hammer to separate hub assembly from outer CV joint as damage to the CV joint threads and internal components may result.
d. Remove halfshaft from vehicle.
8. On all models, prior to installation install new circlip on inboard CV joint stub shaft and/or linkshaft. The original circlip cannot be reused.
9. Align CV joint splines with transaxle differential splines, then push CV joint into differential splines until circlip is felt to seat inside side gears. Some force may be necessary to insert CV joints. Ensure differential oil seal is not damaged during installation. If difficulty is encountered installing CV joints, a non-metallic mallet may be used on the outside joint CV joint stub shaft.
10. Align CV joint splines with hub splines, then install stub shaft in hub as far as possible.
11. Temporarily fasten rotor to hub with two lug nuts and suitable washers. Install steel rod between lug nuts and use to prevent rotor from turning.
12. Install hub washer and new hub nut, then manually thread nut onto CV joint stub shaft as far as possible.
13. Connect steering knuckle to lower ball joint stud, then install new nut and bolt and torque 37---44 ft. lbs.
14. Connect stabilizer bar to stabilizer bar link.
15. Install wheel and tire assembly, then lower vehicle to ground. Torque hub nut to 180---200 ft. lbs.
16. Top off transaxle with lubricants listed below:
a. On Automatic Overdrive Transaxle (AOD), use Motorcraft Type H XT-4-H.
b. On automatic (exc. AOD) and manual transaxle, use Dexron II.