Section 7 (Differential & Driveline): Shaft-Propeller: Description: Rear

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2006 Dodge Magnum, 2006 Dodge Charger, and 2006 Chrysler 300. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

WARNING: Due to propeller shaft imbalance concerns, rear propeller shaft service is limited to center support bearing and coupler replacement only. The rear segment single-cardan universal joint is not serviceable.

Both RWD and AWD models utilize a "two-piece" rear propeller shaft design to transmit torque to the rear axle assembly. See Fig 1. This two-piece design consists of:

Front and rear shaft segments
Center support bearing/bracket assembly
Single-Cardan u-joint at rear segment/bearing interface
Rubber couplers at transmission and rear axle flanges
Fore-mounted vibration damper (V6 Models)

Fig 1: Rear Propeller Shaft Assembly (V8 System Shown)

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - FRONT COUPLER

2 - FRONT SEGMENT

3 - BEARING/BRACKET ASSEMBLY

4 - SINGLE-CARDAN U-JOINT

5 - REAR COUPLER

6 - REAR SEGMENT

The front shaft segment is designed with a collapsing feature, consisting of two concentric tubes secured by shear pins. This feature allows the tubes to telescope up to 200 mm (8 in.) during certain impacts.

The flexible rubber couplers at the transmission and axle flanges absorb vibration. The low-travel Single-Cardan universal joint permits the minimal axial and angular variations that occur with independent rear suspension.

Additionally, models equipped with the V6 engine utilize a vibration damper which is designed to absorb and isolate driveline vibrations and harmonics. This damper is mounted to the front segment, sandwiched between the coupler and propeller shaft.