FREE REPAIR MANUALS & LABOR GUIDES 1982-2013 Vehicles
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Axle Shaft: Description and Operation






An intermediate shaft with a high torsional rigidity emerges from the righthand side of the differential and is journaled in an extra support bearing which is secured to the engine body. In this way the drive shafts can be made identical and will have the same angle in relation to the wheels. The advantage with this solution is that the car's directional stability remains totally intact, even during very hard acceleration.
On the lefthand side the inner universal joint is connected to the differential by a quick coupling. In a corresponding way the right inner universal joint is connected to the intermediate shaft. The universal joints are filled with grease and protected from dirt and moisture by a rubber bellows.





There are two variations of the inner universal joint.
1. The tripod type which consists of a tripod housing and a tripod. The tripod consists of three rollers in needle bearings and can move axially in the tripod housing.





2. The Rzeppa type in which the torque is transferred via six balls which run in axial grooves. In this variant of the Rzeppa universal joint the joint can move axially.





The outer universal joint transfers the engine's torque from the drive shaft to the hub and the wheel. The outer drive shaft has a stub axle which is connected to the hub by splines. The universal joint is of the Rzeppa type and is designed like a clock, with spherical grooves in which six balls transfer the power from the drive shaft to the hub.

The drive shaft is connected to the outer universal joint by splines and axially secured with a locking ring. The universal joint is permanently lubricated and protected by a bellows. The universal joint is only lubricated when the bellows is changed or if the joint is dismantled for some other reason.