Removal and Installation

REMOVAL
1 Remove the wheel and tire.
2 Drain the transaxle fluid.





3 Remove the split pin and driveshaft nut from the front hub.





4 Remove the 2 bolts and disconnect the ball joint from the knuckle.





5 Using a plastic hammer, disconnect the driveshaft from the axle hub.
6 Push the axle hub toward the outside of the vehicle, and separate the driveshaft from the axle hub.





7 Insert a pry bar between the center bearing bracket and the driveshaft, and then pry the driveshaft from the transaxle.

CAUTION
- Use a pry bar so you do not damage the joint.
- If you pull the driveshaft by excessive force, components inside the joint can be displaced causing the boot to be torn and the bearing to be damaged
- Plug the transaxle case opening with an oil seal cap in order to avoid contamination.
- Support the driveshaft properly.
- Replace the retainer ring each time the driveshaft is removed from the transaxle case.





- While loosening the driveshaft nut, do not allow vehicle weight to be concentrated on the wheel bearing. If the vehicle moves, hold the wheel bearing using the special tool.





8 Remove the center bearing bracket mounting bolts. Insert the pry bar between the center bearing bracket and the cylinder block to disconnect the bracket from the cylinder block.
9 Remove the inner shaft from the transaxle.





10 Using the special tool (09432-11000), remove the tone wheel.





INSPECTION
1 Check the driveshaft boots for damage and deterioration.
2 Check the splines for wear and damage.
3 Check the ball joints for wear and operating condition.

INSTALLATION
1 Apply gear oil on the driveshaft splines and differential case contacting surface.
2 Before installing the driveshaft, set the opening side of the circlip so that it faces downward.
3 After installation, check that the driveshaft cannot be removed by hand.





4 Position the washer so that the convex side faces outside and install the nut and split pin.
5 Replace the self-locking nuts and split pin with new ones after removal.
6 Tighten the following parts to the specified torque.
Driveshaft nut 240 - 280 Nm (2400 - 2800 kg.cm, 177 - 206 lb.ft)
Lower arm ball joint to knuckle 100 - 120 Nm (1000 - 1200 kg.cm, 74 - 88 lb.ft)