Half Shaft: Installation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Dodge Stratus and 2005 Chrysler Sebring. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Thoroughly clean spline and oil seal sealing surface, on tripod joint. Lightly lubricate oil seal sealing surface on tripod joint with fresh clean transmission lubricant.
Holding halfshaft assembly by tripod joint and interconnecting shaft, install tripod joint into transaxle side gear as far as possible by hand. See Figure.
Grasp inner tripod joint and interconnecting shaft. Forcefully push the tripod joint into side gear of transaxle, until snap ring is engaged with transaxle side gear. Test that snap ring is fully engaged with side gear by attempting to remove tripod joint from transaxle by hand. If snap ring is fully engaged with side gear, tripod joint will not be removable by hand.
Clean all debris and moisture out of steering knuckle, in the area were outer C/V joint will be installed into steering knuckle.

Ensure that front of outer C/V joint which fits against the face of the hub and bearing is free of debris and moisture before installing outer C/V joint into hub and bearing assembly. See Fig 1.

Fig 1: Outer CV Joint Inspection

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - OUTER C/V JOINT

2 - THIS AREA OF OUTER C/V JOINT MUST BE FREE OF ALL DEBRIS AND MOISTURE, BEFORE INSTALLATION INTO STEERING KNUCKLE.

Slide halfshaft back into front hub. See Fig 2. Then install steering knuckle onto the lower control arm ball joint stud.

Fig 2: Separating Halfshaft from Steering Knuckle

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY

2 - HALFSHAFT

3 - LOWER CONTROL ARM

4 - STEERING KNUCKLE

5 - BALL JOINT

Install the steering knuckle to ball joint stud castle nut. See Fig 3. Tighten the castle nut to 95 N.m (70 ft. lbs.).

Fig 3: Lower Ball Joint to Knuckle Attachment

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - CASTLE NUT

2 - BALL JOINT STUD

3 - STEERING KNUCKLE

4 - COTTER PIN

5 - LOWER CONTROL ARM

Install tie rod end into the steering knuckle. Start tie rod end to steering knuckle nut onto stud of tie rod end. While holding stud of tie rod end stationary, tighten tie rod end to steering knuckle nut. Using a crowfoot and 11/32 socket, tighten the nut to 55 N.m (41 ft. lbs.). See Fig 4 and Fig 5.

Fig 4: Installing Tie Rod End Nut

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - TIE ROD

2 - HEAT SHIELD

3 - STEERING KNUCKLE

4 - TIE ROD STUD

5 - NUT

Fig 5: Torquing Tie Rod End Attaching Nut

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - HEAT SHIELD

2 - OUTER TIE ROD

3 - STEERING KNUCKLE

4 - TORQUE WRENCH

5 - 11/32 SOCKET

6 - CROWFOOT

Install brake rotor to hub. See Fig 6.

Install caliper/adapter bracket assembly on steering knuckle. Install and torque caliper adapter-to-knuckle bolts to 88 N.m (65 ft. lbs.).

Fig 6: Removing/Installing Disc Brake Caliper and Rotor

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - BRAKING DISC

2 - STEERING KNUCKLE

3 - DISC BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY (STORED)

Clean all foreign matter from the threads of the outer C/V joint stub axle. Install hub nut onto threads of halfshaft. See Fig 7. With vehicle brakes applied to keep braking disc from turning, tighten hub nut to 150 N.m (110 ft. lbs.). See Fig 8.

Fig 7: Halfshaft Retaining Nut-Typical
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY

2 - NUT

Fig 8: Torquing Front Hub Nut-Typical
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - TORQUE WRENCH

2 - HUB

3 - BRAKING DISC
Install front wheel and tire assembly. Install front wheel lug nuts and tighten in the correct sequence. See Fig 9. Tighten lug nuts to 135 N.m (100 ft. lbs.).

Fig 9: Wheel Lug Torquing Sequence-Typical
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
Lower vehicle.