Axle Shaft: Service and Repair
REMOVALCAUTION: Do not begin this removal procedure unless the following parts are available:
a. A new rear axle wheel hub retainer.
b. A new driveshaft bearing retainer circlip.
c. A new inboard Constant Velocity (CV) joint stub shaft pilot bearing housing seal.
Once removed, these parts must not be reused during assembly. Their torque holding ability or retention capability is diminished during removal.
Hub Retainer Nut:
1. Remove wheel hub cap. Remove rear axle wheel hub retainer using 36mm socket. Loosen wheel hub bolt nuts.
CAUTION: A frame contact hoist must be used to avoid damage to the halfshafts and/or rear axle CV joint boots.
2. Raise vehicle on a frame contact hoist.
3. Remove wheel and tire assembly.
Antilock Sensors:
4. Remove rear brake anti-lock sensors.
CAUTION: Damage to the rear brake anti-lock sensors may result if they are not removed before removing the halfshafts.
Parking Brake Rear Cable:
5. Using needle nose pliers, slide parking brake rear cable and conduit downward until parking brake cable adjuster is free.
Parking Brake:
6. Remove parking brake rear cable and conduit from rear disc brake caliper.
Brake Caliper:
7. Remove upper and lower disc brake caliper locating pins.
8. Remove rear disc brake caliper assembly from rear disc brake rotor.
CAUTION: Extreme care must be taken not to stretch, twist or kink brake hose assembly.
Brake Caliper:
9. Carefully wire rear disc brake caliper to brake junction bracket as shown.
Upper Arm:
10. Remove rear suspension arm and bushing bolt and nuts.
Suspension Arm:
11. Wire rear suspension arm and bushing to upper shock absorber so that it does not interfere with or damage rear axle CV joint boots when halfshaft is removed.
Lower Arm:
12. Using a paint marker, mark the position of the rear suspension arm and bushing in relation to the rear wheel knuckle with the lower bushings in their relaxed position.
CAUTION: Failure to mark this position will result in bushing wind-up on assembly and incorrect ride height, causing misalignment and premature tire wear.
NOTE: When rear suspension arm bolt is removed from the rear wheel knuckle, the lower bushings will return to their relaxed positions.
Removing Hub:
13. Attach Hub Remover/Replacer T81P-1104-C, Metric Hub Remover Adapter T83P-1104-BH and Hub Bearing Service Adapter T86P-1104-A1 to hub studs as shown. Turn wrench counterclockwise until halfshaft is free in rear hub.
Lower Arm:
14. Using Torx(r) tool T93P-5494-A hold bolt and loosen lower rear nut and remove.
Lower Arm:
15. Using Torx(r) tool T93P-5494-A hold bolt and loosen lower front nut and remove.
Rear Hub:
16. Push inboard CV joint stub shaft pilot bearing housing through rear hub while positioning CV joint and rear wheel knuckle to allow the front lower bolt to clear CV joint. Remove bolt.
Washers:
17. Remove and save washers (one washer for each rear suspension arm and bushing bolt).
NOTE: Washers are positioned between rear suspension arm and bushing. These washers must be reinstalled.
Removing Knuckle:
18. Remove rear bolt, washer and rear wheel knuckle.
Halfshaft:
19. Remove halfshaft assembly from vehicle.
Differential Plug:
20. Insert Differential Plug T89P-4850-B into differential case to prevent loss of lubricant.
INSTALLATION
1. Remove differential plug.
2. Replace inboard CV joint stub shaft pilot bearing housing seal.
Circlip:
3. Install a new driveshaft bearing retainer circlip on inboard CV joint stub shaft pilot bearing housing.
NOTE: To install driveshaft bearing retainer circlip properly, start ends in groove and push driveshaft bearing retainer circlip into groove. This will prevent overexpanding of the driveshaft bearing retainer circlip.
CV Joint:
4. Lightly lubricate stub shaft splines with premium long-life grease XG-1-C (ESA-M1C75-B) or equivalent.
Installing Shaft:
5. Carefully align splines of inboard CV joint stub shaft pilot bearing housing with splines in differential.
NOTE: A non-metallic mallet may be used to aid in seating driveshaft bearing retainer circlip into differential side gear groove. If a mallet is necessary, tap only on the outboard CV joint stub shaft.
Installing Shaft:
6. Push halfshaft into differential case until driveshaft bearing retainer circlip engages with groove in differential side gear. Use care to prevent damage to inboard CV joint stub shaft pilot bearing housing seal.
Knuckle:
7. Engage rear hub splines with outboard CV joint splines and install rear lower bolt, washer and nut finger tight.
NOTE: Proper rear wheel knuckle attaching bolt installation is with the bolt heads facing the rear of the vehicle and with the washers on each side between rear suspension arm and bushing.
Washers:
8. Position washer between the rear suspension arm and bushing.
Installing Hub:
9. Push CV joint stub shaft inward through rear hub while positioning CV joint and rear wheel knuckle to allow installation of the front lower bolt, washer and nut.
NOTE: Due to the rear suspension arm and bushing design, the lower bolts must be installed with the Torx(r) heads facing the rear of the vehicle.
Index Marks:
10. Align rear suspension arm and bushing index marks and tighten rear suspension arm and bushing retaining bolts to 128-178 Nm (94-131 ft lb) using Torx Head Holding Tool T93P-5494-A.
Tightening Nut:
11. With wheel hub bolt nuts installed, hold rear disc brake rotor from turning and hand tighten new rear axle wheel hub retainer.
Upper Arm:
12. Install rear suspension arm and bushing retaining bolt and tighten nut to 158-193 Nm (117-142 ft lb).
Rear Brake:
13. Position rear disc brake caliper assembly over the rear disc brake rotor and install the two disc brake caliper locating pins. Tighten to 87-119 Nm (64-88 ft lb).
CAUTION: When installing rear disc brake caliper hold outer brake shoe and lining against rear disc brake rotor braking surface to avoid damaging caliper piston boot.
Parking Brake:
14. Insert parking brake rear cable and conduit through rear disc brake caliper lever and attach parking brake rear cable and conduits.
Parking Brake Cable:
15. Install parking brake cable adjuster.
Antilock Sensors:
16. Install rear brake anti-lock sensors. Tighten retaining bolts to 19-27 Nm (14-20 ft lb).
17. Check axle lube level and fill as necessary.
Axle:
18. Check inboard driveshaft bearing retainer circlip engagement by attempting to pull inboard CV joint stub shaft pilot bearing housing from axle. If driveshaft bearing retainer circlip is not seated, push CV joint in until driveshaft bearing retainer circlip is fully engaged in differential side gear.
19. Install wheel and tire assembly. Tighten wheel lug nuts to 115-142 Nm (85-105 ft lb).
20. Lower vehicle.
21. Tighten rear axle wheel hub retainer to 340 Nm (251 ft lb).
22. Install wheel hub cap.