Drive Axles, Bearings and Joints: Service and Repair
Front Drive Axle Replace1. Raise and support side of vehicle to be serviced.
2. Remove wheel.
3. Remove caliper assembly and position out of way without straining brake hose.
4. Remove nut and disconnect tie rod from steering knuckle using suitable puller.
5. Remove bolts securing strut to steering knuckle.
6. Hold hub with suitable bar, then remove stub axle nut.
7. If removing left side, proceed as follows:
a. Drain oil from transaxle.
b. Remove three shaft mounting bolts, then slide shaft and boot out of transaxle. Use extreme caution to ensure that the three rollers on the constant velocity shaft are not dislodged. After removing shaft, tape constant velocity joint to prevent components from falling apart.
c. Slide drive axle out of hub and remove from vehicle.
8. If removing right side, proceed as follows;
a. Drive out roll pin securing inner CV joint to transaxle side gear using drift B.Vi. 31-01 or equivalent.
b. Tilt steering knuckle outward, then slide drive axle out of hub, then the transaxle.
9. Reverse procedure to install, torquing shock absorber bottom mounting nuts to 40 ft.lbs., transaxle bellows bolts to 18 ft.lbs., steering arm ball joint nut to 25 ft.lbs., brake caliper bolts to 26 ft.lbs., drive shaft hub nut to 154 ft.lbs., and wheel lug nuts to 55 ft.lbs.