Axle Shaft Inner Joint & Seal: Reassembly
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Pontiac Vibe. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Using a press, install a new bearing. Before installing the boots on the shaft, wrap the splined area of the shaft with vinyl tape to protect them from damage. Temporarily install the boots and clamps.
- On the right hand drive shaft, install the dynamic damper. Position the beveled side of tripod axial spline toward the outboard joint. Align the reference marks, then install tripod to the outboard joint shaft. Install a new snap ring.
- Pack the outboard joint and boot with approximately 4.8-5.5 oz. (135-155g) of green/blue grease. Pack the inboard joint and boot with approximately 4.8-5.5 oz. (135-155g) of dark yellow grease.
- Align the reference marks on inboard joint shaft and outboard joint shaft. Temporarily install the boot to the inboard joint. Install the boots into the grooves on the drive shaft.
- Measure the right hand drive shaft to ensure that the shaft is at standard length before installing the boot clamps. See Fig 1
.
- 2WD models is 33.201-33.595" (843.3-853.3 mm).
- AWD models the standard length is 33.661-34.055" (855.0-865.0 mm).
- Measure the left hand drive shaft to ensure that the shaft is at standard length before installing the boot clamps. See Fig 1
.
- 2WD models is 22.728-23.122" (577.3-587.3 mm).
- AWD models the standard length is 22.319-22.713" (566.9-576.9 mm).
- Using the Drive Shaft Seal Clamp Pliers, crimp the small seal retaining clamp. Install a new barrel retaining ring to the axle shaft bar. Align the reference mark on the tripod spider and the axle shaft bar. See Figure .
- Install the tripod spider to the axle shaft bar, while compressing the barrel retaining ring with a flat-bladed tool. Verify positive engagement of the tripod spider to the axle shaft bar by grasping the tripod spider and attempting to pull free from the axle shaft bar.
- Place approximately half of the grease from the service kit in the axle shaft outboard seal. Use the remainder of the grease to repack the housing. Install the tripod bushing to the housing. See Figure . Install the spring to the tripod housing. Use grease from the housing in order to retain the spring. Install the guide to the spring. Use grease from the housing in order to retain the guide. See Figure . Position the larger new seal retaining clamp on the axle shaft outboard seal. Slide the housing over the tripod joint spider assembly on the axle shaft bar.
- Slide the large diameter of the axle shaft outboard seal, with the larger clamp in place, over the outside of the tripod bushing and locate the lip of the seal in the groove. See Fig 2 . Position the joint assembly at the proper vehicle dimension.
- Align the axle shaft outboard seal, the tripod housing and the large seal retaining clamp while latching. Using the Drive Axle Seal Clamp Pliers, latch the large seal retaining clamp. Ensure that the latching tangs are fully engaged in the large seal clamp band. Rotate the outer tripod housing four or five times in order to distribute the grease throughout the tripod spider bearings.