Axle Shaft Assembly: Service and Repair

Front Axle Shaft Removal and Installation

Axle Shaft Exploded View:

Removal

1. Remove wheel cover.






2. Remove cotter pin and hub nut cap and hub nut and washer.
3. Loosen wheel nuts.
4. Raise the vehicle using hoist.
5. Remove front wheel.
6. Remove lower control arm to ball joint attaching nuts and bolts.
7. Remove tie rod ball joint from knuckle. Use tool J-24319-O1.






8. Remove brake caliper bracket to steering knuckle bolts, support caliper from spring. Remove disc.






9. Using tool J-25287, push the axle from the hub.






10. Using tools J-2619-01 and J-35762, pull the axle from the transaxle.
11. Remove axle assembly from vehicle.






Note: If the vehicle is to be lowered back down to the ground and moved to another location, the front wheel bearings must have a bolt, two washers and a nut put through the shaft opening. See image.

Note: To prevent damage to the seals (wheel side and differential side), be careful not to bring them into contact with other parts when removing the drive axle assembly. Do not pull on the shaft.

Installation

Note: Inspect the inner grease seal in the knuckle. Replace if distorted or worn. Check for contamination (foreign material) at the hub bearing area.

1. Install axle into transaxle. Using a long brass drift and a hammer, drive on the tri-pot housing ribs.
2. Install the axle into wheel hub.
3. Install lower control arm to the lower ball joint. Torque the nuts and bolts to: 80 Nm (59 ft. lbs.).
4. Install the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Torque the nut to: 49 Nm (36 ft. lbs.).
5. Install brake disc to axle hub. Install brake caliper; torque bolts to 88 Nm (65 ft. lbs.).
6. Install wheels and tires.
7. Install hub nut and washer.
8. Lower vehicle to the floor.
9. Torque wheel nuts to 103 Nm (76 ft. lbs.).
10. Torque hub nut to 186 Nm (137 ft. lbs.). Then install nut, cap, cotter pin and washer.