Half Shaft: Removal

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.

Raise vehicle on hoist.
Remove front tire and wheel assembly.
Remove caliper adapter-to-knuckle bolts.

Remove caliper/adapter assembly and support with mechanic's wire or equivalent. See Fig 1. Do not support assembly by the flexible brake hose.

Fig 1: Properly Supported Brake Caliper-Typical

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - ABS SPEED SENSOR CABLE

2 - STEERING KNUCKLE

3 - ROTOR

4 - UPPER CONTROL ARM

5 - DISC BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY

6 - WIRE HANGER

Remove the brake rotor. See Fig 2.

Fig 2: Removing/Installing Disc Brake Caliper and Rotor

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1 - BRAKING DISC

2 - STEERING KNUCKLE

3 - DISC BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY (STORED)

Remove the tie rod-to-steering knuckle nut. See Fig 3. Remove nut from tie rod end by holding tie rod end stud with a 11/32 socket and loosen and remove nut. See Fig 3 .

Fig 3: Removing Tie Rod End-to-Knuckle Nut

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1 - TIE ROD

2 - HEAT SHIELD

3 - STEERING KNUCKLE

4 - TIE ROD STUD

5 - NUT

Separate tie rod end from steering knuckle arm, using Tool MB-991113. See Fig 4.

Fig 4: Tie Rod End Removal from Steering Knuckle

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1 - SPECIAL TOOL MB-991113

2 - TIE ROD END

3 - HEAT SHIELD

4 - STEERING KNUCKLE

5 - LOWER CONTROL ARM

Remove the halfshaft-to-hub and bearing retaining nut. See Fig 5.

Fig 5: Halfshaft Retaining Nut-Typical
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY

2 - NUT

Remove cotter pin and castle nut from stud of lower ball joint at the steering knuckle. See Fig 6.

Fig 6: Lower Ball Joint to Knuckle Attachment

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1 - CASTLE NUT

2 - BALL JOINT STUD

3 - STEERING KNUCKLE

4 - COTTER PIN

5 - LOWER CONTROL ARM

CAUTION: No tool is to be inserted between the steering knuckle and the lower ball joint to separate stud of lower ball joint from the steering knuckle. The steering knuckle is to be separated from the stud of the ball joint only using the procedure as described in step 10.

Turn steering knuckle so the front of the steering knuckle is facing as far outboard in the wheel well as possible. Using a hammer strike steering knuckle boss until steering knuckle separates from stud of lower ball joint. See Fig 7. When striking steering knuckle, care MUST be taken not to hit lower control arm or ball joint grease seal.

NOTE: Care must be taken not to separate the inner C/V joint during this operation. Do not allow driveshaft to hang by inner C/V joint. Driveshaft must be supported.

Fig 7: Separating Ball Joint Stud from Steering Knuckle

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1 - BALL JOINT STUD

2 - STEERING KNUCKLE

3 - LOWER CONTROL ARM

4 - STEERING KNUCKLE BOSS

5 - HAMMER

Separate halfshaft from steering knuckle. See Fig 8. If difficulty is encountered separating halfshaft from knuckle, DO NOT strike halfshaft with a hammer to break free. Install Puller 1026 as shown in to press shaft out of hub/bearing assembly. See Fig 9 .

Fig 8: 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

Fig 9: Separating Halfshaft from Hub/Bearing

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - PULLER 1026

2 - HALFSHAFT

CAUTION: When inserting pry bar between inner tripod joint and transaxle case, care must be used to ensure no damage occurs to oil seal in transaxle case.

Support the outer end of the halfshaft assembly. Insert a pry bar between inner tripod joint and transaxle case. See Fig 10. Pry against inner tripod joint, until tripod joint retaining snap ring is disengaged from transaxle side gear.

Fig 10: Disengaging Inner Tripod Joint from Transaxle

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1 - INNER TRIPOD JOINT

2 - TRANSAXLE CASE

3 - PRY BAR

Hold inner tripod joint and interconnecting shaft of driveshaft assembly. Remove inner tripod joint from transaxle, by pulling it straight out of transaxle side gear and transaxle oil seal. See Fig 11. When removing tripod joint, do not let spline or snap ring drag across sealing lip of the transaxle to tripod joint oil seal.

Fig 11: Tripod Joint Removal from Transaxle

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - INNER TRIPOD JOINT

2 - TRANSAXLE

3 - SPLINE

4 - OIL SEAL

5 - SNAP RING

6 - INTERCONNECTING SHAFT