Inspection and Verification

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2018 Ford EcoSport. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE: New front wheel drive halfshafts should not be installed unless disassembly and inspection reveals unusual wear.

Inspect front wheel driveshaft joint boots for evidence of cracks, tears or splits.
NOTE: While inspecting the front wheel driveshaft CV joint boots, watch for indentations (dimples) in the boot convolutions. If an indentation is observed, it must be removed.
Inspect the underbody for any indication of grease splatter in the vicinity of the front wheel driveshaft CV joint boots outboard and inboard locations, which is an indication of front wheel driveshaft CV joint boot and/or front wheel driveshaft CV joint boot clamp damage.
Inspect for inboard CV joint stub shaft pilot bearing housing seal leakage at the front wheel driveshaft CV joint.
Make sure front axle wheel hub retainer is the correct prevailing torque type.
NOTE: Halfshafts are not balanced and do not contribute to rotational vibration.
If the concerns remain after the inspection, determine the symptoms and go to the Symptom Chart. For additional Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH). Refer to: Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) .