Axle Shaft Assembly: Service and Repair
Drive Axle Assembly RemovalTools Required:
KM-507-B Ball Joint Separator
KM-460-A Axle Shaft Remover
1. Raise and suitable support the vehicle.
2. Remove the wheels.
3. Remove the axle shaft caulking nut. Discard the nut.
4. Remove the lower ball joint nut and bolt.
5. Separate the steering knuckle from the lower ball joint.
CAUTION: Use only the recommended tool for separating the lower ball joint. Failure to use the recommended tool may cause damage to the ball joint and the seal.
6. Remove the tie rod nut.
7. Separate the tie rod end using the ball joint separator KM-507-B.
CAUTION: Use only the recommended tool for separating the tie rod from the knuckle / strut assembly. Failure to use the recommended tool may cause damage to the knuckle/strut assembly.
8. Remove the drive axle from the intermediate axle shaft using the axle shaft remover KM460-A.
9. Remove the intermediate axle shaft mounting bolts and the shaft from the transaxle.
NOTE: Support the unfastened end of the drive axle. Do not allow the drive axle to dangle freely from the transaxle for any length of time after it has been removed from the wheel hub.
NOTE: Place a drain pan below the transaxle to catch the escaping fluid. Cap the transaxle drive opening after the drive axle has been removed to keep the fluid in and any contamination out.
Drive Axle Assembly Installation
1. Clean the hub seal and the transaxle seal.
NOTE: Do not damage the seals.
2. Install the intermediate axle shaft into the transaxle.
Tighten: Tighten the intermediate axle shaft mounting bolts to 52 Nm (38 ft. lbs.).
3. Install the drive axle into the intermediate axle shaft.
4. Install the wheel hub onto the axle shaft.
5. Mount the steering knuckle onto the lower ball joint.
6. Install the tie rod into the knuckle/strut and install the tie rod nut.
Tighten: Tighten the tie rod nut to 50 Nm (37 ft. lbs.).
7. Install the lower ball joint bolt and nut.
Tighten: Tighten the lower ball joint bolt and nut to 105 Nm (77 ft. lbs.).
8. Loosely install the washer and a new axle shaft caulking nut. Always use a new nut.
9. Tighten the axle shaft caulking nut to 320 Nm (236 ft. lbs.).
10. Peen the caulking nut with a punch and a hammer until the nut is locked into place on the axle shaft hub.
11. Install the wheels. Loosely install the nuts.
12. Lower the vehicle to the floor.
Tighten: Tighten the wheel nuts to 100 Nm (74 ft. lbs.).
13. Refill the transaxle fluid to the proper level.