Front Drive Shaft Assembly Removal and Installation

Front Drive Shaft Assembly Removal and Installation
Reference: Front Drive Shaft Components: Front
Reference: Front Drive Shaft Assembly On-Vehicle Inspection: Front

Removal
1) Hoist vehicle and remove front wheel.
2) Release caulking from drive shaft nut (1) and remove drive shaft nut with brake pedal depressed.

NOTE:
^ Carefully use a sharp-tipped bit to release the caulking.
^ Insufficient release of caulking may cause damage to the drive shaft thread.





3) Remove right and left side engine under covers.
4) Remove exhaust pipe No.1.
5) Drain transaxle oil.
- 6M/T model:
- CVT model:
6) Remove front brake caliper.
7) Disconnect front wheel speed sensor from steering knuckle.
8) Disconnect front stabilizer bar joint from strut.
9) Remove strut bracket bolts and nuts.
10) Disconnect front drive shaft assembly from wheel hub assembly.

NOTE:
Lightly tap shaft end of wheel hub side when it is difficult to remove front drive shaft assembly.

11) Use tire lever (1) or plastic hammer (3) to pull out drive shaft joint (2).

NOTE:
Turning drive shaft while pulling out drive shaft may facilitate release of the snap ring fitting of joint spline.








12) Remove drive shaft assembly.

Installation

CAUTION:
^ Be careful not to damage oil seals and boots when installing drive shaft.
^ Do not hit joint boot with hammer.
Insert joints by hand only.
^ Make sure differential side joint is inserted fully and its circlip is seated as it was.

Install drive shaft assembly by reversing removal procedure noting the following points:
^ Use new differential side joint circlip.
^ Tighten strut bracket bolts and new nuts to specified torque.
^ Tighten front stabilizer bar joint nut to specified torque.
^ Tighten front wheel speed sensor bolt to specified torque.
^ Tighten front brake caliper bolts to specified torque.
^ Tighten new drive shaft nut to specified torque, loosen it one rotation or more, and then retighten it to specified torque.

CAUTION:
Be sure to use new drive shaft nut.

Tightening torque
Drive shaft nut* (a): 250 Nm (25.5 kg-m, 184.5 lbf-ft)

^ Caulk drive shaft nut (1) as shown.

CAUTION:
Be sure not to crack caulking part (2) of drive shaft nut while caulking it. Replace it with new one if it is cracked.





^ Install front wheel.
^ Tighten exhaust pipe No.1 bolts and nuts to specified torque.
^ Fill transaxle with oil as specified:
- 6M/T model:
- CVT model:
^ Check front wheel Alignment.