1. Cardan shaft assembly; 2. Center bearing mounting bracket (upper); 3. Clamp; 4. Center bearing mounting bracket (lower)
Removal and installation
Removal
1. Place the transmission in neutral and release the parking brake.
2. Remove the following components:
- main muffler; see chapter «Accelerator, fuel and exhaust systems»;
- front exhaust pipe; see chapter «Accelerator, fuel and exhaust systems» (MR20DE);
- central exhaust pipe; see chapter «Accelerator, fuel and exhaust systems» (QR25DE).
3. Apply alignment marks to the rear propeller shaft connecting flange yoke and the rear final drive and transfer case connecting flanges.
Attention. Apply marks with paint. Do not damage the rear propeller shaft connecting flange yoke and the transfer case connecting flange.
4. Loosen the center bearing mounting bracket mounting nuts.
Attention. Shade the mounting nuts by hand.
5. Unscrew the driveshaft mounting bolts and nuts.
6. Unscrew the mounting nuts of the central bearing mounting bracket.
7. Remove the driveshaft assembly.
Attention. If, when removing, installing or carrying the propeller shaft assembly, you bent the constant velocity joint (CV joint), you could damage its case. To protect the cover from breakage, wrap a napkin or a piece of rubber around the areas where the cover comes into contact with metal parts.
8. Remove the clamps and center bearing mounting bracket (top/bottom).
Installation
Installation is carried out in the reverse order of removal, taking into account the following:
- Install the center bearing mounting bracket (upper) (1) arrow (A) forward.
- To prevent the center bearing insulator from moving (3) adjust the position of the mounting bracket in the longitudinal direction (1), (2) moving it back and forth. Install the center bearing mounting bracket (top/bottom) per car.
- Align the marks, attach the propeller shaft to the connecting flanges of the main gear and transfer case.
- After assembly, perform a road test and check the driveshaft runout. If runout is detected, separate the driveshaft from the final drive. Re-attach the connecting flange by rotating it 90, 180 and 270°. Then do the road test again and check the driveshaft runout at each point
- After tightening the bolts and nuts to the required torque, make sure that the bolts (3) on the connecting flange side are tightened as shown in the figure.
1. Main gear assembly; 2. Cardan shaft assembly.
If replacing the driveshaft or final drive assembly, install it as follows:
- Rotate the label (A) on the main drive connecting flange (1) up. Holding down the mark (A) from above, attach the driveshaft to the main gear so that the mark (IN) on the cardan shaft (2) could be positioned as close as possible to the mark (WITH) on the main drive connecting flange.
- Tighten the driveshaft and final drive mounting bolts and nuts to the required torque.
Checking the appearance
Check if the driveshaft is bent or damaged. If necessary, replace the driveshaft assembly.
Runout check
Check the driveshaft runout at the measurement points. If it exceeds the specified limit, replace the driveshaft assembly. See above for measurement points.
Runout limit See section below «Technical data and specifications».
Axial play of the hinge
Having fixed the connecting flange fork on one side as shown in the figure, check the axial play of the hinge. If the play is different from the norm, replace the propeller shaft assembly.
Standard hinge play. See section below «Technical data and specifications».
Attention. Do not disassemble the hinges.
Central bearing
If the center bearing makes unusual noise or is damaged, replace the driveshaft assembly.
Attention. Do not disassemble the center bearing.