Rear Drive Halfshafts

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 Mercury Mariner and 2008 Ford Escape. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE: An inspection of the outer and inner constant velocity (CV) joint boots is necessary so that if damage or grease leakage is evident, installation of a new halfshaft can take place immediately. Continued operation with damage or grease leakage will result in CV joint wear and noise due to contamination and loss of the CV joint grease.

The inner and outer CV joints connect to a splined shaft. A circlip holds the cross groove inner race assembly (inner CV joint) together.
The RH and LH halfshafts are not the same length.
An axle circlip retains the splined inner CV joint to the differential side gear. Install a new axle circlip each time the halfshaft is removed from the vehicle.
A rear axle wheel hub nut secures the side shaft assembly (interconnecting shaft and outer CV joint) to the rear wheel hub. Install a new rear axle wheel hub nut each time the halfshaft is removed from the vehicle.