Disassembly and Assembly: Disassembly
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2011 Nissan Xterra. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
Final Drive Side
- Mount the drive shaft in a vise.CAUTION: When mounting the drive shaft in a vise, use copper or aluminum plates between the vise and the drive shaft.
- Remove boot bands and slide the boot back.
- Put matching marks on housing and shaft before separating joint assembly.CAUTION: Use paint or similar substance for matching marks. Do not scratch the surfaces.
- Remove the stopper ring with a flat-bladed screwdriver as shown, and pull the housing off.
- Remove the snap ring, then remove the ball cage, steel ball, inner race assembly from the shaft.
- Remove the boot from the shaft.
- Remove circlip and dust cover from housing.
- Clean the old grease off of the housing using paper towels.
Wheel Side
- Mount the drive shaft in a vise.CAUTION: When mounting the drive shaft in a vise, use copper or aluminum plates between the vise and the drive shaft.
- Remove the boot bands and slide the boot back.
- Screw a sliding hammer or suitable tool 30 mm (1.18 in) or more into threaded part of joint sub-assembly. Pull joint sub-assembly off of shaft as shown.NOTE: Align the sliding hammer and shaft and remove the joint subassembly by pulling directly.CAUTION:
- If the joint sub-assembly cannot be removed after five or more unsuccessful attempts, replace the entire drive shaft assembly.
- Remove boot from the shaft.
- Remove circlip from the shaft.
- While rotating the ball cage, clean the old grease off of the joint sub-assembly using paper towels.