1 - retaining ring; 2 - drive shaft; 3 - front suspension strut; 4 – rotary fist; 5 - brake disc; 6 - nut, 220–260 Nm; 7 - lower lever.
Withdrawal
1. Raise the vehicle, secure it on stands and remove the front wheel.
2. Remove the nut securing the drive shaft to the front wheel hub.
Warning! When loosening the nut securing the drive shaft to the hub, depress the brake pedal to prevent the wheel and drive shaft from turning.
3. Drain the transmission fluid from the gearbox.
4. Knock out the drive shaft from the front wheel hub with a kapron hammer. If the drive shaft is firmly seated in the front wheel hub, spray impregnating spray thinner into the spline area and then re-thread the collar nut until it is flush with the end of the shaft. Hit the nut with a brass hammer to knock the drive shaft out of the hub.
5. Tilt the steering knuckle outward and remove the drive shaft from the front wheel hub.
6. Insert a pry bar between the driveshaft inner CV joint and the gearbox and lightly tap the pry bar to remove the driveshaft from the gearbox.
Warning! Support the pry bar on the ribs of the gearbox housing.
Warning! Do not insert the pry bar very deep, so as not to damage the oil sealing ring.
Warning! Do not pull on the drive shaft as this will damage the constant velocity joints.
7. Remove the drive shaft from the gearbox.
Warning! Install special plugs instead of drive shafts so that dirt does not get into the gearbox.
Warning! Replace the differential seal each time the drive shaft is removed.
Examination
1. Check the protective covers of the CV joints of the drive shaft for damage and rubber hardening.
2. Check ball joints for wear.
3. Check the splines on the ends of the drive shaft for wear and damage.
Installation
1. Lubricate the sealing lip of the differential oil seal.
2. Install a new circlip on the inner end of the drive shaft. Push the drive shaft into the gearbox with the circlip cut at the bottom.
3. After installation, pull the drive shaft outward and make sure it is securely fixed with the round clip.
4. Install a washer under the driveshaft-to-hub nut with the convex side outward as shown in the illustration.