Front Drive Halfshafts

Front Drive Halfshafts

The front drive halfshafts consist of the following:

- Inboard and outboard CV joints connect to a splined shaft. Driveshaft bearing retainer circlips retain the CV joints to the splined shaft.

- A front axle wheel hub nut that secures the splined outboard CV joint to the wheel hub.

- Lubed-for-life CV joints use special CV joint grease requiring no periodic lubrication.

- A boot repair kit, 3A331, which includes the boots, clamps and grease is available.

On the LH side, the inboard CV joint is retained in the differential side gear with a 29.5 mm (1.161 in) retainer circlip. This circlip is oval in shape when viewed at the end. Install a new circlip every time the halfshaft is disconnected. On the RH side, a 33 mm (1.29 in) driveshaft bearing retainer circlip retains the splined inboard CV joint to the intermediate shaft. This circlip is round when viewed at the end. Install a new circlip every time the halfshaft is disconnected from the intermediate shaft.

The halfshafts are splined on the outboard stub shaft to drive the wheel hubs. They are retained in the wheel hubs by special wheel hub nuts which also control the wheel bearing preload. The LH halfshaft is splined on the inboard stub shaft and is retained in the differential side gear in the transaxle by a circlip. The RH halfshaft has internal splines which are driven by the intermediate shaft. The intermediate shaft has a circlip on the outboard end and is retained inside the inboard stub shaft. The circlips must be installed new whenever they are removed. The intermediate shaft is retained in the transaxle differential side gear by bolts that go through the intermediate shaft support bearing. The intermediate shaft also goes through the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) on All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicles. The outer seal of the PTU (Power Transfer Unit) must be installed new whenever the intermediate shaft is removed.

Halfshaft Handling

NOTICE: Never pick up or hold the halfshaft only by the inboard or outboard Constant Velocity (CV) joint or damage to the component may occur.

Handle all halfshaft components carefully during removal and installation and during various component disassembly and assembly procedures. Do not overangle the CV joints. Damage will occur to an assembled inboard CV joint if it is overplunged outward from the joint housing. Never use the halfshaft assembly as a lever to position other components. Always support the free end of the halfshaft. Do not allow the boots to contact sharp edges or hot exhaust components. Handle the halfshaft only by the interconnecting shaft to avoid pull-apart and potential damage to the CV joints. Excessive pulling force on the interconnecting shaft between joints of the halfshaft will result in internal joint damage. Axial loads used in assisting removal must be applied through the inboard joint housing only. Do not drop assembled halfshafts. The impact will cut the boots from the inside without evidence of external damage.