Differential Assembly: Service and Repair

Removal

1. Raise and support vehicle, then remove front wheel and tire assemblies.
2. Remove splash shields, then drain transaxle fluid.
3. Remove tie rod nuts and cotter pins, then disconnect both tie rod ends.
4. Remove both stabilizer link assemblies.
5. Remove bolts and nuts from both lower arm ball joints.
6. Pull lower arms down to separate from knuckles.
7. Remove righthand joint shaft bracket.
8. Remove halfshafts from transaxle by prying with a bar inserted between shaft and transaxle case. Support halfshafts in vehicle with wire.
9. Remove differential oil seals using a flat-tip screwdriver.

Installation

1. Install new differential oil seals using differential seal replacer tool No. T87C-77000-H or equivalent.
2. Replace circlip on end of each halfshaft, then install halfshafts in transaxle.
3. Attach lower arm ball joints to knuckles.
4. Install tie rod ends and torque nuts to 22-33 ft. lbs. Install new cotter pins.
5. Install lower arm ball joint bolts and nuts, torquing to 32-40 ft. lbs.
6. Install stabilizer link assemblies. Tighten nuts on each assembly until one inch (25.4 mm) of bolt thread can be measured from upper nut, then secure upper nut and back off lower nut until a torque of 12-17 ft. lbs. is reached.
7. Install splash shields, then the front wheel and tire assemblies. Torque lug nuts to 65-87 ft. lbs.
8. Add specified transaxle fluid, check for leaks and check fluid level.