Removal and Installation

FRONT DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY






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 property.
^ 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 out side and install the nut and split pin.





5. Replace the self-locking nuts and split pin with new ones after removal.
6. Tighten the parts shown to the specified torque.
Driveshaft Nut: 240 - 280 Nm (2400 - 2800 kg.cm, 177 - 206 ft. lbs.)
Lower arm ball joint to knuckle: 100 - 120 Nm (1000 - 1200 kg.cm, 74 - 88 ft. lbs.)