Removal

Before beginning the removal procedure, perform the following preliminary steps:

^ Position the vehicle on a hoist.

^ Raise the hood.

^ Position fender covers.

^ Disconnect the cable from the battery negative terminal.

Figure 10:

1. Refer to Figure 10.

If equipped, remove the bolts attaching the managed air valve to the ATX valve body cover.

2. Remove the bolt that retains the thermactor hoses.

CAUTION: Position hoses and valve away from brake tubing and master cylinder to avoid interference when raising transaxle.

Figure 11:

3. Refer to Figure 11.

Raise the vehicle on hoist.

Remove the front wheels and tires.

Remove the nut from the control arm to steering knuckle attaching bolt (at the ball joint).

Drive the bolt out of the knuckle using a punch and hammer.

Repeat this step on the remaining side.

CAUTION: The nut and bolt must be discarded.

Figure 12:

4. Refer to Figure 12.

Remove the bolt attaching the brake hose routing clip to the suspension strut.

Figure 13:

5. Refer to Figure 13.

Remove the steering gear tie rod to steering knuckle attaching nut and disengage the tie rod from the steering knuckle using Tool 3290-C with T81P-3504-W.

Repeat this step on the remaining side.

Figure 14:

6. Refer to Figure 14.

Disengage the control arm from the steering knuckle using a pry bar.

Repeat this step on the remaining side.

CAUTION: DO NOT use a hammer on knuckle to remove ball joints.

Figure 15:

NOTE: The plastic shield installed behind the rotor contains a moulded pocket into which the lower control arm ball joint fits. When disengaging the control arm from the knuckle, clearance for the ball joint can be provided by bending the shield back toward the rotor. Failure to provide clearance for the ball joint can result in damage to the shield.

NOTE: Exercise care not to damage or cut ball joint boot. Pry bar must not contact lower arm.

Refer to Figure 15.

Figure 16:

7. Refer to Figure 16.

Remove transaxle oil pan which is retained by 13 attaching bolts. Drain fluid and discard pan gasket.

Figure 17:

8. Refer to Figure 17.

To remove halfshafts, insert a large bladed screwdriver between the differential pinion shaft and the inboard CV joint stub shaft.

Give a sharp tap to the handle end of the screwdriver to dislodge the circlip from the sidegear, thus freeing the halfshaft from the differential.

CAUTION: Care should be taken not to damage differential seals during halfshaft removal.

Figure 18:

9. Refer to Figure 18.

Pull the halfshaft out of the transaxle.

Support the end of the shaft by suspending from a convenient underbody component with a length of wire.

NOTE: Do not allow the shaft to hang unsupported; damage to the outboard CV joint may result.

Figure 19:

10. Refer to Figure 19.

Remove three oil filter attaching bolts and remove filter. Thoroughly clean filter at this time. Discard the seal.

Figure 20:

11. Refer to Figure 20.

Position a jack, Rotunda Number 014-00210, under the rear oil pan rail of transaxle case. Place a wood block between jack and case to protect oil pan and case mating surface.

CAUTION: Extreme care should be taken not to damage transaxle case.

Figure 21:

12. Refer to Figure 21.

With jack supporting transaxle, remove two (2) motor mount-to-transaxle attaching bolts. Remove rear mount assembly.

Figure 22:

13. Refer to Figure 22.

Remove six differential bearing retainer attaching bolts.

Figure 23:

14. Refer to Figure 23.

Raise jack, Rotunda Number 014-00210, to allow clearance for bearing retainer removal. Remove bearing retainer and shims while supporting differential.

Figure 24:

15. Refer to Figure 24.

Move differential assembly to the left to clear differential bearing and remove from transmission case.