Axle Shafts

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT, 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV, 2003 Cadillac Escalade, 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT, and 2002 Cadillac Escalade. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Front axle shafts are flexible assemblies which consist of the following components:

Front constant velocity outer joint.
Front tri-pot inner joint.
The front axle shaft connects the tri-pot joint and the constant velocity joint.
Axle shaft seal cover.
The tri-pot joint is completely flexible, and moves with an in and out motion.
The constant velocity joint is flexible but can not move in and out.

The axle shaft is a balanced shaft that transmits rotational force from the front differential to the front wheels when the transfer case is engaged. The axle shaft is mounted to the front differential by bolting the flange of the axle shaft to the flange on the inner output shaft of the front differential. The other end of the axle shaft is splined to fit into and drive the hub assembly when the transfer case is engaged. The tri-pot joint and constant velocity joint on the axle shaft allows the shaft to be flexible to move with the suspension travel of the vehicle.