Axle Shaft Assembly: Description and Operation

DESCRIPTION

All vehicles use an unequal length half shaft system (Figure 1).


The left half shaft uses a tuned rubber damper weight. When replacing the left half shaft, be sure the replacement half shaft has the same damper weight as the original.





Figure 1 Unequal Length Half Shaft System







All half shaft assemblies use the same type of inner and outer joints. The inner joint of both half shaft assemblies is a tripod joint, and the outer joint of both half shaft assemblies is a Rzeppa joint. Both tripod joints and Rzeppa joints are true constant velocity (CV) joint assemblies. The inner tripod joint allows for the changes in half shaft length through the jounce and rebound travel of the front suspension.


On vehicles equipped with ABS brakes, the outer CV joint is equipped with a tone wheel used to determine vehicle speed for ABS brake operation.


The inner tripod joint of both half shafts is splined into the transaxle side gears. The inner tripod joints are retained in the side gears of the transaxle using a snap ring located in the stub shaft of the tripod joint. The outer CV joint has a stub shaft that is splined into the wheel hub and retained by a steel hub nut.