Axle Shaft Assembly: Description and Operation

DESCRIPTION

This vehicle is equipped with either an equal length halfshaft system, consisting of short halfshafts on both sides with an intermediate drive shaft on the right side, or an unequal length halfshaft system consisting of short left and long right halfshafts. The halfshafts consist of a fixed constant velocity (CV) joint at the outboard end connected by a solid shaft to a plunging CV joint on the inboard end. The inner (CV) joint has a splined connection into the transmission, or onto the intermediate drive shaft, and is retained with a snap ring. The outer joint has a spline connection to the wheel hub and is retained with a steel lock nut.

All the halfshaft assemblies use the same type of inner and outer joints. The inner joint is a tripod joint that allows for the changes in halfshaft length through the jounce and rebound travel of the front suspension. The outer joint is a Rzeppa joint that allows articulation during front suspension travel and steering. Both tripod joints and Rzeppa joints are true constant velocity (CV) joint assemblies.