In the joints of the drive shafts, defects often suddenly appear, which can then completely disappear. «rest period» can stretch for several days and kilometers traveled.
Characteristic are rhythmic beating and clicking sounds when gas is applied and forced idling. If the sounds change when the steering wheel is turned, then the defect is in the hinge on the side of the wheel.
Vibration and shaking of the steering wheel when the wheels are turned also indicate a defective outer joint.
The simplest, but also the most expensive repair option is to replace the drive shaft assemblies (maybe through a parts store).
Cheaper method: replacement of a separate hinge. However, it is rather difficult to localize a defective hinge. The best way to recognize a defect is to listen carefully while driving. О On a dismantled shaft, defective hinges are easier to recognize: they rotate with difficulty and jerks After disassembling and washing the hinges, damage to the guide surfaces of the balls in the outer ring becomes visible.
Dismantling of drive shafts
To dismantle the drive shafts, you need a special Opel tool (see text). If there is no special tool and the work is carried out with traditional tools, there is a risk of damage to structural elements.
Engage gear and handbrake.
Loosen the castle nut. The vehicle must be on the ground, otherwise there is a risk of an accident.
Remove the wheel bolts, jack up the car and remove the front wheel.
Remove the cotter pin in the pivot arm pivot, unscrew the nut and pry the pivot out with a conventional puller.
Wring out the hinge of cross steering draft a puller, see the chapter «Wheel suspension and steering».
Pull the axle shaft out of the front wheel hub with your hands. If this does not work, press the shaft with a wheel hub puller installed outside.
Remove the axle shaft by the hinge, not by the shaft.
Drive the drive shaft out of the gearbox. To do this, for the left drive shaft, the KM-313 and KM-902 tools are needed, and for the right drive shaft, the KM-460-2-B tool. The fork-shaped side of the chamfered tool is always turned towards the gearbox, the tool is hit with a hammer weighing 1500 g.
Seals at the ends of the drive shafts protect the joints from moisture and dirt. It is highly recommended to regularly check the cuffs and their hose clamps (arrows), because penetrating dirt and dampness quickly disable the hinge.
Oil is leaking from the axle hole. It must be closed immediately.
If no special tool is available or the axle shaft jams during dismantling, dismantle the differential cover. Be careful, oil leaks.
Knock out the axle shaft with a flat chisel, while the chisel is placed between the end of the shaft and the axis of the bevel gear.
Place the new shaft briefly on the bellows.
The adjacent surface of the outer joint, as well as the corresponding surface of the ball joint of the wheel hub, must be absolutely clean
Lubricate the teeth of the axle shaft with gear oil.
Enter the teeth into the hub, loosely screw a new castle nut with a washer onto the axle shaft.
Lubricate the axle shaft bearing in the differential housing with gear oil.
Insert a new thrust ring into the groove of the hinge end, do not overtighten the ring.
Press the axle shaft by hand into the gearbox housing. Place a screwdriver on the friction weld (not for sheet metal). Enter the axle shaft with hammer blows until it enters the groove of the thrust ring.
By pulling on the hinge, check that the thrust ring has entered the groove correctly (do not pull on the shaft).
If necessary, install the dismantled differential cover with a new gasket, first glue the gasket to the cover with grease for rolling bearings.
Tighten the bolts to 30 Nm.
Fill with transmission oil.
Insert the swing arm pivot. Tighten the nut to 100 Nm.
Tie rod at the steering knuckle by 60 Nm.
Fasten the wheel and lower the car.
Tighten the new castle nut to 130 Nm. Then loosen the nut and tighten it again by 20 Nm. From this position, tighten the nut 80°, which corresponds to approximately 1 D turn.
Fasten the castellated nut. If the spline and cotter pin hole do not match, loosen the nut accordingly, do not overtighten.
Check the transmission oil level.
Tip: do not move the vehicle with the driveshaft removed; otherwise the wheel bearing will be damaged. If, however, the vehicle needs to be moved, install only the outer joint.
Cuff and hinge replacement
If you need to replace both cuffs, then first work on the hinge.
Fit a new thrust ring Make sure that the thrust ring sits perfectly in its groove.
Cuff and hinge replacement
Fill the joint with fresh grease.
Slide the hinge onto the teeth of the shaft and hammer with a plastic hammer until it enters the groove of the thrust ring.
Place the cuff over the hinge.
Slightly lift the cuff with a screwdriver to allow air to escape from the bellows.
Visitor comments