Drive Axle Shafts & Seal (Front, All Wheel Drive Vehicles): Installation
CAUTION:
For non-limited slip differential use SAF-X0 or equivalent. For all other vehicles use only SAF-XLS or equivalent. Failure to comply will result in serious damage to the differential.
NOTE:
New radial seal is equipped with a protective sleeve. The protective sleeve prevents the sealing lip from being damaged when the axle shaft is inserted into the front axle differential.
- Replace snap ring on axle shaft.
- Remove protective sleeve (2) from new radial seal (1). See Figure.
- Drive radial seal firmly home with special tool (31 5 130). Coat sealing lips of new radial seal with transmission fluid. Carefully insert protective sleeve into radial seal. See Fig 1.
- Insert axle shaft part way.
- Cut open protective sleeve and remove.
- Insert axle shaft as far as it will go.
- Push axle shaft over resistance of snap ring and press into differential. Axle shaft coupling must snap audibly into place.
- Tilt swivel bearing into place. Attach control arm at front and rear of front axle support.
- Lightly oil axle shaft splines and insert into drive flange splines. Screw on special tool (33 2 118). Screw on special tool (33 2 116) with 5 wheel studs. Install axle shaft with special tool (33 2 115), gripping with tire iron.
- Install a new collar nut and attach on axle shaft. Tighten to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .
- Install stabilizer link to stabilizer.
- Install brake caliper housing.
- Attach brake hose to mounting and ride level sensor on control arm.
- Attach ABS pulse sensor.
- Install front wheel and tighten wheel lug nuts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .
- Install underguards and heat shield.
- Open filler plug and check front axle differential fluid level. Fluid level should come to lower edge of filler plug.