Opel Frontera UE. Manual - part 674

4A1–2

DIFFERENTIAL (FRONT)

Front Drive Axle

Diagnosis

Condition

Possible cause

Correction

Oil Leak At Front Axle

Worn or defective oil seal.

Replace the oil seal.

Front axle housing cracked.

Repair or replace.

Oil Leak At Pinion Shaft

Too much gear oil.

Correct the oil level.

Oil seal worn or defective.

Replace the oil seal.

Pinion flange loose or damaged.

Tighten or replace.

Noises In Front Axle Drive Shaft 
Joint

Broken or worn drive shaft joints and 
bellows (BJ and DOJ).

Replace the drive shaft joints and 
bellows.

“Clank" When Accelerating From 
“Coast"

Loose drive shaft joint to output 
shaft bolts.

Tighten.

Damaged inner drive shaft joint.

Replace.

Shudder or Vibration During 
Acceleration

Excessive drive shaft joint angle.

Repair.

Worn or damaged drive shaft joints.

Replace.

Sticking spider assembly (inner 
drive shaft joint).

Lubricate or replace.

Sticking joint assembly (outer drive 
shaft joint).

Lubricate or replace.

Vibration At Highway Speeds

Out of balance or out of round tires.

Balance or replace.

Front end out of alignment.

Align.

Noises in Front Axle

Insufficient gear oil.

Replenish the gear oil.

Wrong or poor grade gear oil.

Replace the gear oil.

Drive pinion to ring gear backlash 
incorrect.

Adjust the backlash.

Worn or chipped ring gear, pinion 
gear or side gear.

Replace the ring gear, pinion gear or 
side gear.

Pinion shaft bearing worn.

Replace the pinion shaft bearing.

Wheel bearing worn.

Replace the wheel bearing.

Differential bearing loose or worn.

Tighten or replace.

Wanders and Pulls

Wheel bearing preload too tight.

Adjust the wheel bearing preload.

Incorrect front alignment.

Adjust the front alignment.

Steering unit loose or worn.

Tighten or replace.

Tire worn or improperly inflated.

Adjust the inflation or replace.

Front or rear suspension parts loose 
or broken.

Tighten or replace.

Front Wheel Shimmy

Wheel bearing worn or improperly 
adjusted.

Adjust or replace.

Incorrect front alignment.

Adjust the front alignment.

Worn ball joint or bush.

Replace the ball joint or bush.

Steering unit loose or worn.

Tighten or replace.

Tire worn or improperly inflated.

Replace or adjust the inflation.

Shock absorber worn.

Replace the shock absorber.

DIFFERENTIAL (FRONT)

4A1–3

Pinion Shaft Oil Seal

Pinion Shaft Oil Seal and Associated Parts

415RX004

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Removal

1. Raise the vehicle and support it at the frame.

The hoist must remain under the front axle housing.

2. Drain the front axle oil by loosening the drain 

plug(1).

412RS001

(1) Flange Nut
(2) Flange
(3) Oil Seal

(4) Outer Bearing
(5) Collapsible Spacer

4A1–4

DIFFERENTIAL (FRONT)

3. Remove the front propeller shaft. Refer to Front 

Propeller Shaft in this section.

4. Remove flange nut by using pinion flange holder 5–

8840–2157–0.

415RW028

5. Remove flange.

6. Remove oil seal.

7. Remove outer bearing by using remover 5–8840–

2323–0.

415RW048

8. Remove collapsible spacer.

Inspection and Repair

Make necessary correction or parts replacement if 
wear, damage, corrosion or any other abnormal 
condition are found through inspection.
Check the following parts.

1. Seal surface of the pinion.

2. Cage bore for burns.

Installation

1. Install collapsible spacer. Discard the used 

collapsible spacer and install a new one.

2. Install outer bearing.

NOTE:  Do not drive in, but just temporarily set in the 
outer bearing by hand, which should be indirectly 
pressed in finally by tightening the flange nut.

3. Install oil seal, use oil seal installer 9–8522–1275–0 

to install a new oil seal that has grease on seal lip.

415RW021

4. Install flange.

5. Install flange nut, refer to Differential Assembly 

Overhaul for flange nut reassembly in this section.

NOTE:  Discard the used nut and install a new one.

DIFFERENTIAL (FRONT)

4A1–5

Front Drive Axle Assembly

Front Drive Axle Assembly and Associated Parts

412RX010

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(1) Propeller Shaft
(2) Mounting Nut
(3) Front Axle Case Assembly and Front Drive 

Shaft Assembly

(4) Washer

(5) Mounting Bolt
(6) Tie–rod End; Power Steering Unit
(7) Knuckle and Back Plate
(8) Hub and Disc Assembly
(9) Suspension Crossmember