Driveshaft - checking and cleaning

Driveshafts / Driveshaft - checking and cleaning

Checking
1 If any of the checks described in Chapter 1 reveal wear in any driveshaft joint, first remove the roadwheel trims and check that the driveshaft retaining nuts are tight.

2 Road test the vehicle, and listen for a metallic clicking from the front as the vehicle is driven slowly in a circle on full lock. If evident, this indicates wear in the outer constant velocity joint(s). This means that the joint(s) must be renewed; reconditioning is not possible.

3 If vibration, consistent with road speed, is felt through the car when accelerating, there is a possibility of wear in the inner constant velocity joint(s).

4 The procedure for removing or renewing the joints is described in Section 3, however if necessary the joints may be dismantled as follows for examination or for cleaning where the gaiters have broken and the joints have been contaminated with dirt or water.

Cleaning
Outer joint
5 With the joint removed as described in Section 3, mark the hub in relation to the cage and joint housing.

6 Swivel the hub and cage and remove the balls one at a time.

7 Turn the cage until the rectangular apertures are aligned with the housing then withdraw the cage and hub (see illustration).

4.7 Removing the cage and hub from the outer joint housing

Arrow shows rectangular aperture

8 Turn the hub and insert one of the segments into one of the rectangular apertures, then swivel the hub from the cage (see illustration).

4.8 Removing the outer joint hub from the cage

9 Note that the joint components including the balls form a matched set and must only be fitted to the correct side.

10 Clean the components in paraffin and examine them for wear and damage.

Excessive wear will have been evident when driving the car especially when changing from acceleration to overrun.

11 Commence reassembly by inserting half the amount of special grease (ie 45g) into the joint housing.

12 Fit the hub to the cage by inserting one of the segments into the rectangular aperture.

13 With the rectangular apertures aligned with the housing, fit the hub and cage to the housing in its original position.

14 Swivel the hub and cage and insert the balls from alternate sides.

Inner joint
15 Mark the hub in relation to the cage and joint housing.

16 Turn the hub and cage 90° to the housing and press out the hub and cage. Keep the balls in their correct positions during this procedure (see illustration).

4.16 Removing the inner joint hub and cage

17 Extract the balls then turn the hub so that one of the track grooves is located on the rim of the cage, and withdraw the hub (see illustrations).

4.17a Inner joint hub, cage and housing

4.17b Removing the inner joint hub from the cage

Arrows indicate position of hub

18 Note that the joint components including the balls form a matched set and must only be fitted to the correct side.

19 Clean the components in paraffin and examine them for wear and damage.

Excessive wear will have been evident when driving the car especially when changing from acceleration to overrun.

20 Commence reassembly by fitting the hub to the cage.

21 Insert the balls into position using the special grease to hold them in place.

22 Press the hub and cage into the housing making sure that the wide track spacing on the housing will be adjacent to the narrow spacing on the hub (see illustration) when fully assembled. Note also that the chamfer on the hub splines must face the large diameter side of the housing.

4.22 Assembly of the inner joint cage and hub to the housing

“a” must be aligned with “b”

23 Swivel the cage ahead of the hub so that the balls enter their respective tracks then align the hub and cage with the housing.

24 Check that the hub can be moved freely through its operating arc.