Rear Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement
Rear Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement
Special Tools
J 45859 - Hub Puller
For the equivalent regional tools, refer to Special Tools Tools and Equipment.
Removal Procedure
1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle Service and Repair.
2. Remove the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation Service and Repair.
Caution: Make sure that the wheel drive shaft nut is fully un-staked to avoid damage to the wheel drive shaft threads during the removal of the wheel drive shaft nut. Failure to follow these instructions could result in wheel, nut, and/or stud damage.
3. Using a chisel tool and a hammer, unstake the drive shaft nut collar from the drive shaft slot.
4. For vehicles with RPO J56, proceed to step 7. For those without RPO J56, proceed to step 5.
5. Insert a drift or punch (1) in the brake rotor and the brake caliper bracket.
6. Rotate the brake rotor until the drift or punch (1) is resting against the brake mounting bracket.
7. Insert a drift or a punch (1) in the brake rotor cooling fins.
8. Place a clean shop towel (2) between the drift or punch and the brake caliper (3).
9. Rotate the brake rotor until the drift or punch (1) is resting against the brake caliper (3).
Note: DO NOT use air tools to remove the wheel drive shaft nut. Damage to the wheel drive could occur. Use hand tool ONLY.
10. Using a breaker bar (5) and the proper size socket (4), loosen the wheel drive shaft nut.
Note: DO NOT reuse wheel drive shaft nut. Discard and replace with NEW only.
11. Remove and discard the wheel drive shaft retaining nut (1).
12. Using the J 45859 - puller, separate the wheel drive shaft from the wheel bearing/hub assembly.
Note: The following service procedure applies only to the CTSV series vehicles, ONLY.
13. Remove the knuckle assembly. Refer to Knuckle Replacement Service and Repair.
Note: Position the jack stand to the side to have enough access area to remove the wheel drive shaft.
14. Support the knuckle assembly with a jack stand.
15. Remove the lower control arm, if needed. Refer to Lower Control Arm Replacement Lower Control Arm Replacement.
16. Mark the relationship of the wheel drive shaft to the output shaft flange.
17. Remove the wheel drive shaft mounting bolts (2) and the spacer (1) from the differential drive flange.
Note: It may be necessary to use a flat bladed screw drive to separate the wheel drive shaft from the differential flange.
18. Remove the wheel drive shaft (1) from the vehicle.
Note:
* If there is no washer on the wheel drive shaft, install a NEW washer on the wheel drive shaft.
* If the washer is found to be excessively worn or damaged, discard and replace with NEW only.
19. Remove the washer (1) from the wheel drive shaft (2).
Installation Procedure
1. Install the NEW washer (1) on the wheel drive shaft (2), if needed.
2. Install the wheel drive shaft (1) in the vehicle.
Note: The following service procedure applies only to the CTSV series vehicles, ONLY.
3. Install the knuckle assembly. Refer to Knuckle Replacement Service and Repair.
4. Remove the support from the knuckle.
Note: Ensure that there are no gaps in the threadlocker along the length of the filled area of the wheel drive shaft threads. Allow the threadlocker to cure approximately 10 minutes before installation of the wheel drive shaft nut.
5. Apply threadlocker to the wheel drive shaft threads (1). Refer to Adhesives, Fluids, Lubricants, and Sealers [1][2]Axle Shaft Assembly.
Note: DO NOT reuse wheel drive shaft nut. Discard and replace with NEW only.
6. Hand start the NEW wheel drive shaft retaining nut (1).
7. Align the reference marks on the wheel drive shaft and the output shaft flange.
Note: If reusing the wheel drive shaft bolts, the threads must be free of debris prior to the application of the threadlocker to ensure the proper adhesion and retention.
8. Thoroughly clean the threads using denatured alcohol or equivalent and allow to dry.
Note: Ensure that there are no gaps in the threadlocker along the length of the filled area of the bolt. Allow the threadlocker to cure approximately 10 minutes before installation of the bolts.
9. Apply threadlocker to the wheel drive shaft bolts. Refer to Adhesives, Fluids, Lubricants, and Sealers [1][2]Axle Shaft Assembly.
Caution: Refer to Fastener Caution Fastener Caution.
10. Install the mounting bolts (2) and spacer (1) on the differential drive flange and tighten to 80 Nm (59 lb ft).
11. For vehicles with RPO J56, proceed to step 12. For those without RPO J56, proceed to step 15.
12. Insert a drift or punch (1) in the brake rotor and the brake caliper bracket.
13. Rotate the brake rotor until the drift or punch (1) is resting against the brake mounting bracket.
Note: Tighten the wheel drive shaft nut slowly to draw the wheel drive shaft into the knuckle prior to tightening to specifications.
14. For vehicles with RPO code J56, tighten the wheel drive shaft nut to 215 Nm (158 lb ft).
15. Insert a drift or a punch (1) in the brake rotor cooling fins.
16. Place a clean shop towel (2) between the drift or punch and the brake caliper (3).
17. Rotate the brake rotor until the drift or punch (1) is resting against the brake caliper (3).
Note: Tighten the wheel drive shaft nut slowly to draw the wheel drive shaft into the knuckle prior to tightening to specifications.
18. For vehicles without RPO code J56, tighten the wheel drive shaft nut to 230 Nm (170 lb ft).
Note: The wheel drive shaft nut collar should be fractured in the center of the slot of the wheel drive shaft. The fracture in the collar should be approximately 90 degrees to each other.
19. Using a hammer and a chisel (1), stake the wheel drive shaft nut (2) collar into the drive shaft slot.
20. Install the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation Service and Repair.
21. Remove the support and lower the vehicle.