Front Half Shaft - Description

DESCRIPTION

Naturally aspirated models equipped with either an automatic or manual transmission use an unequal-length halfshaft system. The system incorporates two halfshaft assemblies (left and right) that consist of an inner and outer constant velocity (CV) joint and a solid interconnecting shaft. The right halfshaft is longer than the left due to transaxle packaging and powertrain design. Manual transmission models use equal length halfshafts.

Both halfshaft assemblies use the same type of inner and outer joints. The inner joint of both halfshaft assemblies is a tripod joint, and the outer joint of both halfshaft 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 halfshaft length through the jounce and rebound travel of the front suspension.




Halfshaft Retaining Hardware
The left halfshaft inner tripod joint and the intermediate shaft are both splined into the transaxle side gears. The inner tripod joints are retained 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 hub nut (3) and washer (2), nut lock (5), spring washer (4) and cotter pin (1).