Front axle
Removal
Caution: If the vehicle is equipped with electronically controlled air suspension, turn off the ride height control switch.
1. Remove the wheel cap or hub cap. Knock off the nut caulking with a center punch or chisel (Fig. 2.1).
Fig. 2.1. If the axle shaft mounting nut is locked with a punch, knock off the caulking with a punch (the wheel has been removed for clarity)
2. Loosen the hub nut using a socket head and a large extension (Fig. 2.2).
Fig. 2.2. Loosen the axle/hub nut using a lever of sufficient length
3. Loosen the wheel nuts, lift the car and place reliable supports under it. Remove the wheel. Drain the oil from the gearbox (see chapter 1).
4. Loosen the nuts and remove the bolt securing the ball joint to the wishbone, then press the wishbone down and separate the lower wishbone from the ball joint (see chapter 10). Now unscrew the axle shaft/hub nut.
5. Rotate the pivot arm away from the vehicle until the end of the axle shaft is released from the hub.
Note: If the axle shaft splines are binding in the hub bore, tap the end of the axle shaft with a plastic hammer. Suspend the outer end of the axle shaft with a piece of wire to avoid unnecessary deformation of the inner CV joint.
6. If you are working on the right half shaft on a four-cylinder model, remove the intermediate support mounting bolts. If you are working on a V6 model, use special pliers to remove the retaining ring from the intermediate support of the intermediate shaft.
7. Carefully pry up and remove the inner end of the axle shaft (or, depending on the model, the intermediate shaft of the axle shaft) from the gearbox in the block with the drive axle. To do this, place a large screwdriver or crowbar between the gearbox or intermediate support and the CV joint (Fig. 2.7). Support the CV joints and carefully remove the axle shaft from the car.
Fig. 2.7. To remove the inner end of the axle shaft from the gearbox, pry up the constant velocity joint housing with a large screwdriver or crowbar
Installation
8. Remove the retaining ring from the inner end and install a new one (fig. 2.8, a, b). Lubricate the differential or intermediate shaft seal with general purpose grease and raise the axle shaft to the required height, supporting the CV joints.
Fig. 2.8, a. Using a small screwdriver or awl, remove the retaining ring from the inner end of the axle shaft
Row 2.8, b. To install a new retaining ring, insert one end of the ring into the groove and gradually insert the entire ring into the groove
9. Insert the splined end of the inner CV joint or intermediate shaft into the differential side gear and ensure the snap ring is engaged in the groove. If you are installing a side shaft/intermediate shaft, install the intermediate bearing mounting bolts or install the snap ring, whichever is applicable.
10. Apply a thin coat of multi-purpose grease to the splines of the outer CV joint, move the steering knuckle assembly with the suspension strut to the side and insert the half shaft into the hub.
11. Connect the ball joint to the lower wishbone and tighten the nuts (see tightening torques in chapter 10).
12. Install the new axle/hub nut. Tighten the hub nut securely, but do not attempt to tighten it to the specified actual torque until the vehicle is completely lowered.
13. Grasp the inner CV joint housing (not for the axle shaft) and pull outward to ensure that the axle shaft is securely locked into the transmission. If the inner CV joint-to-flange bolts have been removed, tighten them to the specified torque as shown in the Specifications at the beginning of this chapter.
14. Install the wheel, tighten the wheel nuts and lower the vehicle.
15. Tighten the wheel nuts to the specified torque as shown in the Specifications at the beginning of this chapter. Tighten the hub nut to the specified torque as shown in the Specifications at the beginning of this chapter. Using a punch and hammer, lock the nut by punching it into the groove on the axle shaft.
16. Fill the transmission with the recommended transmission fluid in the prescribed amount (see chapter 1).
Rear axle (4WD models)
Removal
Caution: If the vehicle is equipped with electronically controlled air suspension, turn off the ride height control switch.
17. Remove the wheel cap or hub cap. Knock off the nut caulking with a punch or chisel (Fig. 2.1).
18. Loosen the hub nut using a socket head and a large extension (Fig. 2.2).
19. Loosen the wheel nuts, lift the car and place reliable supports under it. Remove the wheel.
20. Remove the ABS sensor wire clamps and the parking brake cable bracket from the trailing arm.
21. Unscrew the bolts securing the transverse arms to the hub support (see chapter 10).
22. Remove the axle shaft nut, then pull the axle shaft out of the rear hub support. Be careful not to damage the sealing lip of the rear hub support inner seal. If the splines on the outer CV shaft are stuck in the splined hole in the hub, use a hammer and drift to free the CV shaft.
Caution: Do not allow the axle shaft to hang on the inner CV joint.
23. Carefully pry the inner end of the axle shaft out of the differential. To do this, place a large screwdriver or pry bar between the differential and the CV joint housing. Support the CV joints and carefully remove the axle shaft from the vehicle.
Installation
24. Remove the retaining ring from the inner end and install a new one (fig. 2.8, a, b). Lubricate the differential or intermediate shaft seal with general purpose grease and raise the axle shaft to the required height, supporting the CV joints.
25. Insert the splined end of the inner CV joint or intermediate shaft into the differential and ensure that the snap ring is locked into the appropriate groove.
26. Apply a thin coat of general purpose grease to the outer CV joint splines, move the rear hub support aside and insert the axle shaft into the hub.
27. Connect the wishbones to the rear hub support (see "Tightening torques for threaded connections" in chapter 10).
28. Install the new axle/hub nut. Tighten the hub nut securely, but do not attempt to tighten it to the specified actual torque until the vehicle is completely lowered.
29. Grasp the inner CV joint housing (not for the axle shaft) and pull outward to ensure that the axle shaft is securely fixed in the rear axle.
30. Install the wheel, probably the wheel nuts and lower the car.
31. Tighten the wheel nuts to the specified torque as shown in Specifications at the beginning of Chapter 1. Tighten the hub nut to the specified torque specified in Specifications at the beginning of this chapter. Using a center punch and hammer, lock the nut into the groove on the axle shaft.
32. Fill the rear axle with the recommended transmission oil in the prescribed quantity (see chapter 1).