Front Wheel Drive

If removing both right and left side halfshafts, plugs T81P-1177B or equivalent must be installed. Failure to do so may result in dislocation of differential side gears, necessitating transaxle disassembly to re-align the gears. Also, halfshaft removal and installation procedures are the same for manual and automatic transaxles except for the following: due to automatic transaxle case configuration the right side halfshaft assembly must be removed first. Tool T81P-4026A or equivalent is then inserted into transaxle to remove left side inner constant velocity joint assembly from transaxle. If only the left side halfshaft is to be removed from the vehicle, remove right side halfshaft assembly from the transaxle case only and secure to underside of vehicle, then remove left side halfshaft assembly. The hub nut and lower control arm to steering knuckle attaching bolt and nut must be discarded after removal and new nuts and bolts installed.

Driveshaft assembly removal and installation procedures are the same for ATX/FLC (automatic transaxle) applications as for MTX (manual transaxle) applications except the ATX/FLC case configuration requires that the righthand halfshaft assembly be removed first. Differential rotator T81P-4026-A or equivalent, should then be inserted into the transaxle to drive the lefthand inboard constant velocity joint assembly from the transaxle. If only the lefthand halfshaft assembly is to be removed for service, remove the righthand halfshaft assembly from the transaxle only. After removal, support it with a length of wire, then drive the lefthand halfshaft assembly from the transaxle case. Do not begin this removal procedure unless the following parts are known to be available, a new hub retainer nut, a new longer lower control arm to steering knuckle attaching bolt and nut and a new inboard constant velocity joint stub shaft snap ring. Once removed, these components must not be reused during the assembly procedure. Their torque holding ability or retention capability is greatly diminished during removal.
1. Loosen hub nut without unstaking. Use of a chisel or similar tool to unstake nut may damage spindle threads.
2. Raise and support vehicle and remove wheel assemblies.
3. Remove hub nut and washer. Discard hub attaching nut, it is a torque prevailing design and cannot be reused.
4. Remove bolt attaching brake hose routing clip to suspension strut.
5. Remove nut from ball joint to steering knuckle attaching bolt, then drive bolt from knuckle using suitable punch and hammer. Discard bolt and nut, they are torque prevailing design and cannot be reused.

Fig. 1 Separating Ball Joint From Steering Knuckle:

Fig. 2 Halfshaft From Differential Housing Removal:

Fig. 3 Separating Outer Constant Velocity Joint From Hub:

Fig. 4 Inner Constant Velocity Joint Into Differential Side Gear Installation:

6. Separate ball joint from steering knuckle using pry bar, Fig. 1. Lower ball joints fit into a pocket formed in the plastic disc brake shield. The shield must be positioned away from the ball joint while removing ball joint from steering knuckle.
7. Remove halfshaft from differential housing using suitable pry bar. Use caution not to damage dust deflector located between shaft and case, Fig. 2. If an automatic transaxle halfshaft assembly cannot be removed from differential by using a pry bar, insert a large bladed screwdriver between differential pinion shaft and inboard constant velocity joint stub shaft. Sharply tap on screwdriver handle, to free halfshaft from differential. Use caution not to damage differential oil seal, constant velocity joint boot or constant velocity joint dust deflector.
8. Suspend shaft from suitable underbody component using suitable wire. Do not allow shaft to hang as outboard CV joint damage may result.
9. Separate outer constant velocity joint from hub using puller T81P-1104C or equivalent, Fig. 3, and adapters T81P-1104B and T81P-1104A or equivalent. Do not use a hammer to separate outboard constant velocity joint stub shaft from hub as damage to internal components may result.
10. Reverse procedure to install, noting the following:
a. Install new circlip on inboard constant velocity joint stub shaft.
b. Align splines of inboard constant velocity joint stub shaft with splines in differential.
c. Push joint into differential until circlip seats in side gear, Fig. 4.
d. Torque new control arm to steering knuckle nut to 40-54 ft. lbs.
e. Torque brake hose routing clip to strut attaching bolt to 8 ft. lbs.
f. Torque wheel lug nut to 80-105 ft. lbs.
g. Torque new hub nut to 180-200 ft. lbs., during tightening, an audible click will indicate the proper ratchet function of hub attaching nut, as nut tightens, ensure one of three locking tabs on nut is aligned with CV joint shaft slot, if nut is damaged or more then one locking tab is missing, replace hub attaching nut.