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 suspen-
sion.

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.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - HALF SHAFT

VEHICLE INSPECTION

(1) Check for grease in the vicinity of the inboard

tripod joint and outboard CV joint; this is a sign of
inner or outer joint seal boot or seal boot clamp dam-
age.

NOISE AND/OR VIBRATION IN TURNS

A clicking noise and/or a vibration in turns could

be caused by one of the following conditions:

• Damaged outer CV or inner tripod joint seal

boot or seal boot clamps. This will result in the loss
and/or contamination of the joint grease, resulting in
inadequate lubrication of the joint.

• Noise may also be caused by another component

of the vehicle coming in contact with the half shafts.

CLUNKING NOISE DURING ACCELERATION

This noise may be a result of one of the following

conditions:

• A torn seal boot on the inner or outer joint of the

half shaft assembly.

• A loose or missing clamp on the inner or outer

joint of the half shaft assembly.

• A damaged or worn half shaft CV joint.

DIFFERENTIAL & DRIVELINE

3 - 1

CLICKING/POPPING NOISE DURING SHIFT (R-to-D
or D-to-R)

This noise may be caused by a lack of lubrication

at halfshaft-to-hub splines and abutment face.

SHUDDER OR VIBRATION DURING ACCELERATION

This problem could be a result of:
• A worn or damaged half shaft inner tripod joint.

• A sticking tripod joint spider assembly (inner tri-

pod joint only).

• Improper wheel alignment. (Refer to 2 - SUS-

PENSION/WHEEL

ALIGNMENT

STANDARD

PROCEDURE)

VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS

This problem could be a result of:
• Foreign material (mud, etc.) packed on the back-

side of the wheel(s).

• Out of balance tires or wheels. (Refer to 22 -

TIRES/WHEELS - STANDARD PROCEDURE)

• Improper tire and/or wheel runout. (Refer to 22 -

TIRES/WHEELS - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING)

REMOVAL

(1) Raise vehicle.

(2) Remove the cotter pin and nut lock (Fig. 2)

from the end of the half shaft.

(3) Remove the wheel and tire assembly from the

vehicle. (Refer to 22 - TIRES/WHEELS - REMOVAL)

Fig. 1 Unequal Length Half Shaft System

1 - STUB AXLE

8 - OUTER C/V JOINT

2 - OUTER C/V JOINT

9 - RIGHT HALFSHAFT

3 - OUTER C/V JOINT BOOT

10 - INNER TRIPOD JOINT BOOT

4 - TUNED RUBBER DAMPER WEIGHT

11 - INNER TRIPOD JOINT

5 - INTERCONNECTING SHAFT

12 - INNER TRIPOD JOINT

6 - OUTER C/V JOINT BOOT

13 - INNER TRIPOD JOINT BOOT

7 - STUB AXLE

14 - INTERCONNECTING SHAFT LEFT HALFSHAFT

Fig. 2 Half Shaft Retaining Nut

1 - HUB/BEARING
2 - NUT LOCK
3 - COTTER PIN
4 - STUB AXLE

3 - 2

HALF SHAFT - FRONT

HALF SHAFT - FRONT (Continued)

(4) Remove the wave washer (Fig. 3) from the end

of the half shaft.

(5) With the vehicle’s brakes applied to keep hub

from turning, loosen and remove the half shaft
nut.

(6) Remove

the

two

front

disc

brake

caliper

adapter to steering knuckle attaching bolts (Fig. 4).

(7) Remove the disc brake caliper assembly from

the steering knuckle. Caliper assembly is removed by
first rotating top of caliper assembly away from
steering knuckle and then removing bottom of assem-

bly out from under machined abutment on steering
knuckle.

(8) Support disc brake caliper assembly by using a

wire hook and suspending it from the strut assembly
(Fig. 5). Do not allow the brake caliper assembly
to hang by the brake flex hose.

(9) Remove the brake rotor from the hub and bear-

ing assembly.

(10) Remove the steering knuckle-to-strut attach-

ment bolts (Fig. 6) from the steering knuckle.

(11) Pull the steering knuckle from the strut clevis

bracket.

Fig. 3 Wave Washer

1 - HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY
2 - WAVE WASHER
3 - STUB AXLE

Fig. 4 Front Brake Mounting

1 - BRAKE ROTOR
2 - HUB AND BEARING
3 - STEERING KNUCKLE
4 - ADAPTER MOUNTING BOLTS
5 - BRAKE CALIPER
6 - ADAPTER
7 - CLIP

Fig. 5 Properly Supported Disc Brake Caliper -

Typical

1 - STEERING KNUCKLE
2 - BRAKE FLEX HOSE
3 - CALIPER ASSEMBLY
4 - WIRE HANGER
5 - STRUT ASSEMBLY

Fig. 6 Strut To Steering Knuckle Attaching Bolts

1 - STRUT CLEVIS BRACKET
2 - NUTS AND BOLTS
3 - STEERING KNUCKLE

HALF SHAFT - FRONT

3 - 3

HALF SHAFT - FRONT (Continued)

NOTE: Care must be taken not to separate the inner
C/V joint during this operation. Do not allow half
shaft to hang by inner C/V joint after removing
outer C/V Joint from the hub/bearing assembly in
steering knuckle, end of half shaft must be sup-
ported.

(12) Pull steering knuckle assembly down and

away from the outer C/V joint of the half shaft
assembly while pulling the joint out of the hub bear-
ing.

(13) Support the outer end of the half shaft assem-

bly. Insert a pry bar between inner tripod joint and
transaxle case (Fig. 7). Pry against inner tripod joint,
until tripod joint retaining snap-ring is disengaged
from transaxle side gear.

(14) Hold inner tripod joint and interconnecting

shaft of half shaft assembly. Remove inner tripod
joint from transaxle, by pulling it straight out of
transaxle side gear and transaxle oil seal (Fig. 8).
When removing tripod joint, do not let spline or
snap-ring drag across sealing lip of the trans-
axle to tripod joint oil seal.

INSTALLATION

(1) Thoroughly clean spline and oil seal sealing

surface, on tripod joint. Lightly lubricate oil seal
sealing surface on tripod joint with fresh clean trans-
mission lubricant.

(2) Holding half shaft assembly by tripod joint and

interconnecting shaft, install tripod joint into trans-
axle side gear as far as possible by hand (Fig. 8). Be
sure to engage splines prior to applying force.

(3) Grasp inner tripod joint an interconnecting

shaft. Forcefully push the tripod joint into side gear

of transaxle, until snap-ring is engaged with trans-
axle

side

gear.

Test

that

snap-ring

fully

engaged

with

side

gear

attempting

remove tripod joint from transaxle by hand. If
snap-ring is fully engaged with side gear, tripod
joint will not be removable by hand.

(4) Clean all debris and moisture out of steering

knuckle, in the area were outer CV joint will be
installed into steering knuckle.

(5) Ensure that front of outer CV joint which fits

against the face of the hub and bearing is free of
debris and moisture before installing outer CV joint
into hub and bearing assembly (Fig. 9).

(6) Slide half shaft back into front hub and bear-

ing assembly.

CAUTION: The steering knuckle to strut assembly
attaching bolts are serrated and must not be turned
during installation. Install nuts while holding bolts
stationary in the steering knuckle.

CAUTION: If the vehicle being serviced is equipped
with eccentric strut assembly attaching bolts, the
eccentric bolt must be installed in the bottom (slot-
ted) hole on the strut clevis bracket (Fig. 10).

(7) Install steering knuckle in clevis bracket of

strut damper assembly. Install the strut damper to
steering knuckle attaching bolts. Tighten both bolts
to a torque of 88 N·m (65 ft. lbs.) plus an additional
1/4 turn.

(8) Install braking disc on hub and bearing assem-

bly.

Fig. 7 Disengaging Inner Tripod Joint From

Transaxle

1 - INNER TRIPOD JOINT
2 - TRANSAXLE CASE
3 - PRY BAR

Fig. 8 Tripod Joint Removal from Transaxle

1 - INNER TRIPOD JOINT
2 - TRANSAXLE
3 - SPLINE
4 - OIL SEAL
5 - SNAP-RING
6 - INTERCONNECTING SHAFT

3 - 4

HALF SHAFT - FRONT

HALF SHAFT - FRONT (Continued)

Content .. 431 432 433 434 ..