Diesel and Turbo Models
Vehicles equipped with the 2.2L Turbo Diesel and
the 2.4L Turbo Gasoline utilize an equal-length half-
shaft system. The system incorporates two halfshaft
assemblies (left and right) that consist of an inner
and outer constant velocity (CV) joint and a solid
interconnecting shaft, and an intermediate shaft/
bearing assembly as shown in (Fig. 2)
The left halfshaft uses a tuned-rubber damper
weight mounted to the interconnecting shaft (Fig. 2).
When replacing a halfshaft, be sure the replacement
halfshaft has the same damper weight as the origi-
nal.
Both halfshaft assemblies use the same type of
inner and outer joints. The inner joint of both half-
shaft assemblies is a tripod joint, and the outer joint
of both halfshaft 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 halfshaft 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 left halfshaft inner tripod joint and the inter-
mediate shaft are both splined into the transaxle side
gears. The inner tripod joints are retained 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 hub nut and
washer, nut lock, wave washer and cotter pin (Fig.
3).
NOTE: This vehicle does not use a rubber–lip bear-
ing seal as on previous front–wheel–drive cars to
prevent contamination of the front wheel bearing.
On these vehicles, the face of the outer C/V joint
fits deeply into the steering knuckle, using a close
outer C/V joint–to–steering knuckle fit. This design
deters direct water splash on bearing seal while
allowing any water that gets in, to run out the bot-
tom of the steering knuckle bearing bore. It is
important to thoroughly clean the outer C/V joint
and the wheel bearing area in the steering knuckle
before it is assembled after servicing.
Fig. 1 Unequal Length Halfshaft System
1 - STUB AXLE
8 - OUTER C/V JOINT
2 - OUTER C/V JOINT
9 - RIGHT HALFSHAFT
3 - OUTER C/V JOINT BOOT
10 - INNER TRIPOD JOINT BOOT
4 - TUNED RUBBER DAMPER WEIGHT
11 - INNER TRIPOD JOINT
5 - INTERCONNECTING SHAFT - RH
12 - INNER TRIPOD JOINT
6 - OUTER C/V JOINT BOOT
13 - INNER TRIPOD JOINT BOOT
7 - STUB AXLE
14 - INTERCONNECTING SHAFT - LH
3 - 2
HALF SHAFT
PT
HALF SHAFT (Continued)