Contents: Removal ↡ Installation ↡
Note: Installation will require new rear driveshaft coupling nuts, axle joint bolts and final drive support bolt nuts.
Removal
1. Place chocks under the front wheels. Raise the rear of the vehicle and support it on jack stands (see Fig. "Lifting the car and placing it on supports"). Remove both rear wheels.
2. On models with ABS, follow these steps:
- a) Drain the oil from the final drive as described in Chapter 1.
- b) Contact Chapter 9 and remove the wheel speed sensor from the final drive housing.
3. In accordance with the description in Chapter 4G, remove the nuts and lower the exhaust system heat shields.
4. Using a 41 mm open-end wrench, loosen the driveshaft clamping nut located just behind the center support bearing by two turns. Use a second wrench to hold the driveshaft still while loosening the nut.
5. Unscrew the two screws securing the middle support bearing of the cardan transmission to the bottom of the body.
6. Unscrew the three nuts and unscrew the bolts securing the rear flexible coupling of the cardan transmission to the differential gear flange.
7. Move the driveshaft forward as far as possible to disengage the pinion flange centering sleeve. Move the disconnected driveshaft to the side and support it by tying it to the parking brake cable with a rope.
8. Loosen the bolts securing both constant velocity joints on the differential drive flanges. Remove the bolts and retaining plates.
9. Push the shafts outward to separate them from the drive flanges. Using a piece of string, tie the shafts to the rear camber strut.
10. Place a jack under the final drive housing and support the unit.
11. Loosen the bolts securing the rear part of the main gear housing to the subframe and remove the bolts together with the retaining plates (see fig. 3.11).
Fig. 3.11. Rear bolts for fastening the main gear housing to the subframe (shown by arrows)
12. Unscrew the nut and remove the bolt securing the body to the subframe at the front (see fig. 3.12).
Fig. 3.12. Bolt for fastening the main gear housing to the subframe (shown by arrow)
13. Lower the jack and remove the final drive housing from under the vehicle.
Installation
14. To install the unit, center it on the subframe and hand tighten the front mount bolt and nut.
15. Install the four rear mounting bolts and retaining plates and tighten them to the required torque. After that, also tighten the front nut and bolt to the required torque.
16. Install the cardan shaft on top of the centering sleeve of the gear flange and secure the elastic coupling to the gear flange using three nuts and bolts.
17. Install the two center support bearing mounting bolts, but only tighten them finger tight at this stage.
18. Once the driveshaft is in place, tighten the coupling nut, then fully tighten the center bearing mounting bolts to the specified torque.
19. Install the exhaust system heat shields.
20. Lubricate the threads of the inner CV joint bolts to the differential drive flange with light oil, then install the bolts with the locking plates and tighten them to the required torque.
21. On models equipped with ABS, install the speed sensor and secure it with the mounting bolt after removing any metal particles that may collect on the sensor's magnetic probe.
22. Remove the filler/inspection hole plug and fill or top up the final drive with oil to the lower edge of the inspection hole. Install the plug and tighten it securely.
23. Lower the car to the ground.