1 – STUB AXLE
2 – OUTER C/V JOINT
3 – OUTER C/V JOINT BOOT
4 – TUNED RUBBER DAMPER WEIGHT
5 – INTERCONNECTING SHAFT
6 – OUTER C/V JOINT BOOT
7 – STUB AXLE

8 – OUTER C/V JOINT
9 – RIGHT DRIVESHAFT
10 – INNER TRIPOD JOINT BOOT
11 – INNER TRIPOD JOINT
12 – INNER TRIPOD JOINT
13 – INNER TRIPOD JOINT BOOT
14 – INTERCONNECTING SHAFT LEFT DRIVESHAFT

DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINE

3 - 1

Both driveshaft assemblies use the same type of

inner and outer joints. The inner joint of both drive-
shaft assemblies is a tripod joint, and the outer joint
of both driveshaft assemblies is a Rzeppa joint. Both
tripod joints and Rzeppa joints are true constant
velocity (C/V) joint assemblies. The inner tripod joint
allows for the changes in driveshaft length through
the jounce and rebound travel of the front suspen-
sion.

On vehicles equipped with ABS brakes, the outer

C/V joint is equipped with a tone wheel used to
determine vehicle speed for ABS brake operation.

The inner tripod joint of both driveshafts is splined

into the transaxle side gears. The inner tripod joints
are retained in the side gears of the transaxle using
a snap ring located in the stub shaft of the tripod
joint. The outer C/V joint has a stub shaft that is
splined into the wheel hub and retained by a steel
hub nut.

NOTE: This vehicle does not use a rubber lip bear-
ing seal as on past front wheel drive cars, to pre-
vent contamination of the front wheel bearing. It is
important though to thoroughly clean the outer C/V
joint and the wheel bearing area in the steering
knuckle before it is assembled after servicing.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING

DRIVESHAFT DIAGNOSIS

VEHICLE INSPECTION

(1) Check for grease in the vicinity of the inboard

tripod joint and outboard C/V joint; this is a sign of
inner or outer joint seal boot or seal boot clamp dam-
age.

(2) A light film of grease may appear on the right

inner tripod joint seal boot; this is considered normal
and should not require replacement of the seal boot.

NOISE AND/OR VIBRATION IN TURNS

A clicking noise and/or a vibration in turns could

be caused by one of the following conditions:

(1) Damaged outer C/V or inner tripod joint seal

boot or seal boot clamps. This will result in the loss
and/or contamination of the joint grease, resulting in
inadequate lubrication of the joint.

(2) Noise may also be caused by another compo-

nent of the vehicle coming in contact with the drive-
shafts.

CLUNKING NOISE DURING ACCELERATION

This noise may be a result of one of the following

conditions:

(1) A torn seal boot on the inner or outer joint of

the driveshaft assembly.

(2) A loose or missing clamp on the inner or outer

joint of the driveshaft assembly.

(3) A damaged or worn driveshaft C/V joint.

SHUDDER OR VIBRATION DURING ACCELERATION

This problem could be a result of:
(1) A worn or damaged driveshaft inner tripod

joint.

(2) A sticking tripod joint spider assembly (inner

tripod joint only).

(3) Improper wheel alignment. See Wheel Align-

ment in this group for alignment checking and set-
ting procedures and specifications.

VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS

This problem could be a result of:
(1) Foreign material (mud, etc.) packed on the

backside of the wheel(s).

(2) Out of balance front tires or wheels. See Group

22, Wheels And Tires for the required balancing pro-
cedure.

(3) Improper tire and/or wheel runout. See Group

22, Wheels And Tires for the required runout check-
ing procedure.

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

FRONT DRIVESHAFTS

REMOVAL

(1) Loosen (but do not remove) stub axle to hub/

bearing retaining nut. Loosen hub nut while vehicle
is on the floor with the brakes applied (Fig. 2). The
front hub and driveshaft are splined together and
retained by the hub nut.

(2) Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a

frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting, in the Lubri-
cation and Maintenance section, for required lifting
procedure to be used for this vehicle.

(3) Remove front tire and wheel assembly from the

hub.

(4) Remove

the

driveshaft-to-hub

and

bearing

retaining nut (Fig. 3).

(5) Remove front disc brake caliper assembly to

steering knuckle guide pin attaching bolts (Fig. 4).

(6) Remove disc brake caliper assembly from steer-

ing knuckle. Caliper is removed by first lifting bot-
tom of caliper away from steering knuckle, and then
removing top of caliper out from under steering
knuckle (Fig. 5).

3 - 2

DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINE

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)

(7) Support brake caliper/adapter assembly using a

wire hook (Fig. 6). Do not support assembly by
the brake flex hose.

(8) Remove braking disc from front hub (Fig. 5).
(9) Remove nut attaching outer tie rod end to

steering knuckle. Remove nut from tie rod end by
holding tie rod end stud with a 11/32 socket and
loosen and remove nut (Fig. 7).

(10) Remove the tie rod end stud from steering

knuckle arm, using remover, Special Tool MB-991113
(Fig. 8).

(11) If equipped with antilock brakes, remove the

speed sensor cable routing bracket from the steering
knuckle (Fig. 9).

(12) Remove cotter pin and castle nut (Fig. 10)

from stud of lower ball joint at the steering knuckle.

Fig. 2 Loosening Front Hub Retaining Nut

1 – FRONT HUB

Fig. 3 Driveshaft Retaining Nut—Typical

1 – HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY
2 – NUT

Fig. 4 Caliper Guide Pin Attaching Bolts

1 – DISC BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY
2 – STEERING KNUCKLE
3 – CALIPER ASSEMBLY GUIDE PIN BOLTS

Fig. 5 Removing Disc Brake Caliper and Rotor

1 – BRAKING DISC
2 – STEERING KNUCKLE
3 – DISC BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY (STORED)

DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINE

3 - 3

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

CAUTION: No tool is to be inserted between the
steering knuckle and the lower ball joint to separate
stud of lower ball joint from the steering knuckle.
The steering knuckle is to be separated from the
stud of the ball joint only using the procedure as
described in Step 13.

(13) Turn steering knuckle so the front of the

steering knuckle is facing as far outboard in the

wheel well as possible. Using a hammer strike steer-
ing knuckle boss until steering knuckle separates
from stud of lower ball joint (Fig. 11). When strik-
ing steering knuckle, care MUST be taken not
to hit lower control arm or ball joint grease
seal.

NOTE: Care must be taken not to separate the
inner C/V joint during this operation. Do not allow
driveshaft to hang by inner C/V joint. Driveshaft
must be supported.

Fig. 6 Correctly Supported Brake Caliper

1 – ABS SPEED SENSOR CABLE
2 – STEERING KNUCKLE
3 – ROTOR
4 – UPPER CONTROL ARM
5 – DISC BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY
6 – WIRE HANGER

Fig. 7 Removing Tie Rod End Attaching Nut

1 – TIE ROD END
2 – HEAT SHIELD
3 – STEERING KNUCKLE
4 – TIE ROD END STUD
5 – NUT

Fig. 8 Tie Rod End Removal from Steering Knuckle

1 – SPECIAL TOOL MB-991113
2 – TIE ROD END
3 – HEAT SHIELD
4 – STEERING KNUCKLE
5 – LOWER CONTROL ARM

Fig. 9 Wheel Speed Sensor Cable Routing Bracket

1 – WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CABLE
2 – SPEED SENSOR CABLE ROUTING BRACKET
3 – STEERING KNUCKLE
4 – ATTACHING BOLT
5 – BRAKE CALIPER FLEX HOSE

3 - 4

DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINE

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

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