Section 74 (Axle Shafts - Front): Description

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Vehicles use unequal length axle shaft system. Unequal length system has a long axle shaft on right side of vehicle, and a short axle shaft on left side. Left axle shaft uses a tuned rubber damper weight. Vehicles with ABS have a tone wheel attached to outer CV joints to determine vehicle speed for ABS operation. See Fig 1 .

Both axle shafts are 3-piece units consisting of outer Rzeppa joint, interconnecting shaft and inner tripod joint. Both Rzeppa joints and tripod joints are true Constant Velocity (CV) joint assemblies. Inner tripod joint allows for changes in axle shaft length through jounce and rebound travel of front suspension.

Both inner CV joints are splined into transaxle side gear and are retained in side gears by a snap ring, located on stub shaft of tripod joint. Outer CV joints have stub shafts that are splined into wheel hub and are retained by a steel hub nut.

Fig 1: Identifying Front Axle Shaft Assembly Components

Courtesy of CHRYSLER CORP.