Removal and Installation

REMOVAL
1. Raise vehicle on jackstands or centered on a frame contact type hoist.

Fig. 3:

2. Remove the halfshaft hub nut.
3. Install a screw-type jack stand underneath rear lower control arm.
4. Support lower control arm with jack stand.
5. Remove rear sway bar mount at lower control arm.

Fig. 4:

6. Remove rear strut lower mounting bolt and nut.
7. Remove rear lower control arm ball stud lock nut.

WARNING: Do not try to separate the ball stud from the rear knuckle by using any other method than the one specified in Steering and Suspension. Injury may result.

Fig. 5:

8. Deattach ball stud from knuckle. Refer to Steering and Suspension for instructions..
9. Lift up and out on knuckle while grasping axle shaft.

CAUTION: When removing outer C/V joint from hub and bearing assembly, do not allow the flinger disk on hub and bearing assembly to become damaged. Damage to the flinger disk will cause dirt and water intrusion into bearing. Premature bearing failure will result.

10. Pull out on tire and knuckle and dislodge outer joint from knuckle and hub.
11. Hold outer C/V joint assembly with one hand, and rotate it out until outer C/V joint clears hub and bearing assembly.

Fig. 6:

12. Dislodge inner tripod joint from stub shaft retaining snap ring on transaxle assembly. Inner tripod joint is dislodged from stub shaft retaining snap ring, by inserting a pry bar between transaxle case and inner tripod joint and prying on tripod joint. Only disengage the inner tripod joint from the retaining snap ring. Do not attempt to remove the inner tripod joint from the transmission stub shaft at this time.

Fig. 7:

13. Remove halfshaft inner tripod joint from transaxle stub shaft. When removing halfshaft, do not pull on interconnecting shaft to remove inner tripod joint from stub shaft. Removal in this manner will separate the spider assembly from the tripod joint housing. Grasp inner tripod joint and interconnecting shaft and pull on both pieces at the same time.
INSTALLATION

CAUTION: The inboard tripod joint retaining circlip and O-ring seal on the transaxle stub shaft are not re-usable. Whenever the inboard tripod joint is removed from the stub shaft, the retaining circlip and O-ring seal MUST BE REPLACED. The retaining circlip and O-ring seal is included in all service kits requiring removal of the inboard tripod joint from the stub shaft.

1. Replace O-ring seal and tripod joint retaining circlip on the transaxle stub shaft.

Fig. 8:

2. Evenly apply a bead of grease, such as MOPAR Multi-Purpose Lubricant or an equivalent, around spline (of inner tripod joint where the O-ring seats against tripod joint. This will spread grease onto stub shaft during tripod joint installation preventing corrosion and help to seal the O-ring.
3. Align and position halfshaft; at transaxle stub shaft. Grasp inner tripod joint in one hand and interconnecting shaft in the other. Align inner tripod joint spline with stub shaft spline on transaxle. Use a rocking motion with the inner tripod joint, to get it past the circlip on the transaxle stub shaft.
4. Continue pushing tripod joint onto transaxle stub shaft until it stops moving. The O-ring seal on the stub should not be visible when inner tripod joint is fully installed on stub shaft. To check that inner tripod joint retaining circlip is locked into tripod joint, grasp inner tripod joint and pull on it by hand. If circlip is locked into tripod joint, tripod joint will not move on stub shaft.

CAUTION: When installing outer C/V joint into the hub and bearing assembly, do not allow the flinger disk on hub and bearing assembly to become damaged. Damage to the flinger disk can cause dirt and water intrusion into bearing and premature bearing failure.

5. Pull out on tire and knuckle and engage outer joint into knuckle and hub.
6. Install outer C/V joint into the hub and bearing assembly.
7. Position ball stud to rear knuckle.
8. Carefully insert ball stud into rear knuckle.
9. Install new ball stud locknut. Tighten to 115 Nm (85 ft. lbs.).
10. Install rear strut lower mounting bolt and nut.
11. Install rear sway bar mount at lower control arm.
12. Remove screw-type jack stand from underneath rear lower control arm.

CAUTION: The hub and bearing assembly to stub shaft retaining nut is a prevailing torque nut and cannot be re-used. A NEW retaining nut MUST be used when assembled.

13. Install a NEW hub and bearing assembly to stub shaft retaining nut. lighten, but do not torque the hub nut at this time.
14. Lower vehicle to the ground.

CAUTION: When tightening hub and bearing assembly to stub shaft retaining nut, do not exceed the maximum torque of 163 Nm (105 ft. lbs.). If the maximum torque is exceeded this may result in a failure of the halfshaft.

15. Apply the vehicle's brakes to keep vehicle from moving. Tighten the NEW stub shaft to hub and bearing assembly retaining nut to 141 Nm (105 ft. lbs.).