Town & Country Van AWD V6-230 3.8L VIN L SMFI (1998)
CAUTION: When inserting pry bar between inner tripod joint and transaxle case, care must be used to ensure no damage occurs to oil seal in
transaxle case.
Disengaging Inner Tripod Joint From Transaxle
15. Support the outer end of the driveshaft assembly. Insert a pry bar between inner tripod joint and transaxle case. Pry against inner tripod joint, until
tripod joint retaining snap ring is disengaged from transaxle side gear.
Tripod Joint Removal From Transaxle
16. Hold inner tripod joint and interconnecting shaft of driveshaft assembly. Remove inner tripod joint from transaxle, by pulling it straight out of
transaxle side gear and transaxle oil seal. When removing tripod joint, do not let spline or snap ring drag across sealing lip of the transaxle to
tripod joint oil seal.
CAUTION: The driveshaft, when installed, acts as a bolt and secures the front hub/bearing assembly. If vehicle is to be supported or moved on
its wheels with a driveshaft removed, install a PROPER-SIZED BOLT AND NUT through front hub. Tighten bolt and nut to 183 Nm (135 ft.
lbs.). This will ensure that the hub bearing cannot loosen.
INSTALLATION
1. Thoroughly clean spline and oil seal sealing surface, on tripod joint. Lightly lubricate oil seal sealing surface on tripod joint with fresh clean
transmission lubricant.
2. Holding driveshaft assembly by tripod joint and interconnecting shaft, install tripod joint into transaxle side gear as far as possible by hand.
3. Grasp inner tripod joint an interconnecting shaft. Forcefully push the tripod joint into side gear of transaxle, until snap ring is engaged with
transaxle side gear. Test that snap ring is fully engaged with side gear by attempting to remove tripod joint from transaxle by hand. If snap ring is
fully engaged with side gear, tripod joint will not be removable by hand.
4. Clean all debris and moisture out of steering knuckle, in the area were outer C/V joint will be installed into steering knuckle.
