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Halfshaft joint snap ring
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Halfshaft joint snap ring
Handling front drive halfshafts
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: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: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:Never use the joints or front drive halfshafts as jacking points.
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: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.