ford Workshop Repair Guides

Ford Workshop Service and Repair Manuals

206 Brake System > < Front Halfshaft
Front Drive Halfshafts - Front Drive Halfshafts Cougar 1999 (08/1998-01/2001)
Description and Operation

  • The front drive halfshafts transmit torque from the engine to the wheels.
  • In order to allow vertical movement of the wheels and engine, the front drive halfshafts operate at varying lengths and angles.
  • The tripode joints allow for changes in driveshaft length during axial movements.

Halfshaft Joint

  • To reduce running friction, the front drive halfshafts are fitted with constant velocity (CV) joints at both ends.
  • Tripode joints (with tripode, running rollers and tripode housing) are fitted on the transaxle side.
  • Fix joints (with ball star, ball cage and ball shell) are fitted on the wheel side.
  • The left - hand tripode joint is secured in the differential with a snap ring.
  • The intermediate shaft (right - hand side) is not secured in the differential, but is secured by the intermediate shaft bearing bracket.
  • The tripode joint of the right - hand front drive halfshaft is secured in the intermediate shaft with a snap ring.
  • The wheel - side constant velocity joints are attached to the wheel hubs.

Front Drive Halfshafts Exploded View

 
Item
Part Number
Description
1
-
Fix joint
2
-
Boot clamp (large)
3
-
Boot
4
-
Boot clamp (small)
5
-
Halfshaft joint snap ring
6
-
Snap ring
7
-
Front drive halfshaft
8
-
Tripode
9
-
Tripode housing insert
10
-
Tripode housing
11
-
Halfshaft joint snap ring
12
-
Intermediate shaft

Handling front drive halfshafts

CAUTION:
CAUTION:To avoid to damage the halfshaft joints and boots, do not bend the inner halfshaft joint by more than 18 degrees, the outer one by not more than 45 degrees.
NOTE:
NOTE:Never hold the front drive halfshaft just by the tripoide joint.

Utmost care should be taken while removing/installing and disassembling/assembling the front drive halfshafts. The following points should be observed:

  • When removing front drive halfshafts do not pull on the tripode joints.
  • Check polished surfaces and splines for damage.
  • Do not allow the boots to come into contact with sharp edges, the engine when it is hot or the exhaust system.
  • Do not drop the front drive halfshafts, as this can cause interior damage to the boots which may not be visible from the outside.
  • Do not use front drive halfshafts as levering tools for the installation of other components. The front drive halfshafts must always hang freely.
  • The tripode joint can be damaged by knocks outside the joint housing.

Wheel balancing, front

CAUTION:
CAUTION:Using a portable wheel balancing unit when the vehicle is lifted completely off the ground will result in damage to the tripode joints or boots, as the joint is bent a large angle and therefore overheats.

To use a portable wheel balancing unit position a trolley jack under the suspension arm opposite the wheel which is being balanced. This prevents the joint from being bent too much when the vehicle is raised.

CAUTION:
CAUTION:Never use the joints or front drive halfshafts as jacking points.
CAUTION:
CAUTION:Do not attach the tow rope to the front drive halfshaft.

If possible, wheels should be removed from the vehicle and balanced in a stationary balancing machine.

Underbody protection and corrosion prevention

NOTE:
NOTE:The boots should be covered during application of underbody protection or corrosion prevention.

Foreign bodies can be the cause of premature material wear. Foreign bodies on shafts can cause imbalances.

206 Brake System > < Front Halfshaft