Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement Left Drive Axle

1. Raise the vehicle. Support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle Vehicle Lifting and Jacking in General Information.
2. Remove the following components (if the vehicle is equipped):

•	The four skid plate bolts

•	The front skid plate

3. Remove the left front tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Wheel Removal in Tires and Wheels.



4. Remove the following components from the locking hub body:

•	The six Allen® head bolts

•	The locking hub cover

5. Remove the drive axle shaft snap ring from the end of the drive axle shaft.
6. Remove the drive axle shaft spindle washer from the drive axle shaft.

Caution: To prevent personal injury and/or component damage, use the proper tools to support the lower control arm when removing the coil spring. The coil spring is under extreme pressure and can become a projectile should the spring separate from the lower control arm before all of the tension is relieved.

7. Use a hydraulic jack in order to support the left front control arm.
8. Remove the following components from the left front control arm:

•	The three nuts

•	The three bolts

9. Separate the following components from the left front control arm:

•	The steering knuckle

•	The lower ball joint

10. Slowly lower the hydraulic jack in order to relieve the pressure in the coil spring.
11. Remove the wheel-side joint of the left drive axle from the steering knuckle.
12. Remove the wheel-side joint of the left drive axle shaft from the steering knuckle.



13. Make a reference mark (2) on the following components in order to ensure correct installation:

•	The left inner axle shaft flange (1)

•	The differential side joint flange (3) of the left drive axle shaft

14. Remove the following components from the left inner axle shaft flange:

•	The three bolts

•	The three nuts

•	The differential joint flange of the left drive axle shaft

1. Install the differential side joint flange of the left drive axle shaft to the left inner axle shaft flange.

Be sure to align the reference marks (2) on the left inner axle shaft flange (1) and the differential side joint flange (3) of the left axle drive shaft.

2. Secure the three bolts and the three nuts.

Tighten
Tighten the left differential side joint bolts and nuts to 55 N·m (41 lb ft).

3. Install the wheel-side joint of the left front drive axle shaft into the steering knuckle.
4. Use a hydraulic jack in order to support the left front control arm.
5. Install the following components to the left front control arm:

•	The steering knuckle

•	The lower ball joint

6. Secure with three nuts and three bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the lower ball joints and nuts to 85 N·m (63 lb ft).

7. Remove the hydraulic jack.
8. Install the drive axle shaft spindle washer onto the drive axle shaft.
9. Install the drive axle shaft snap ring onto the end of the drive axle.



10. Install the locking hub cover onto the locking hub body.

Be sure to align the index key in the locking hub cover (1) with the notched portion (2) in the locking hub body.

11. Secure the six Allen® head bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the locking hub cover bolts to 33 N·m (24 lb ft).

12. Install the left front tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Wheel Installation in Tires and Wheels.
13. Install the front skid plate to the vehicle (if the vehicle is equipped) and secure with four bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the front skid plate bolts to 54 N·m (40 lb ft).

14. Lower the vehicle.

Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement Right Drive Axle

Tools Required

J 37780 Axle Shaft Remover

1. Raise the vehicle. Support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle Vehicle Lifting and Jacking in General Information.
2. Remove the following components from the vehicle (if the vehicle is equipped):

•	The four bolts

•	The skid plate

3. Remove the left front tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Wheel Removal in Tires and Wheels.



4. Remove the following components from the locking hub body:

•	The six Allen® head bolts

•	The locking hub cover

5. Remove the drive axle shaft snap ring from the end of the drive axle shaft.
6. Remove the drive axle shaft spindle washer from the drive axle shaft.

Caution: To prevent personal injury and/or component damage, use the proper tools to support the lower control arm when removing the coil spring. The coil spring is under extreme pressure and can become a projectile should the spring separate from the lower control arm before all of the tension is relieved.

7. Use a hydraulic jack in order to support the left front control arm.
8. Remove the following components from the right front control arm:

•	The three nuts

•	The three bolts

9. Separate the following components from the right front control arm:

•	The steering knuckle

•	The lower ball joint

10. Slowly lower the hydraulic jack in order to relieve the pressure in the coil spring.
11. Remove the wheel-side joint of the right drive axle shaft from the steering knuckle.



12. Use the following steps in order to remove the differential-side joint of the right drive axle shaft from the front axle housing (1):

12.1.

Install the J 37780 between the front axle housing (1) and the differential side joint.

12.2.

Gently tap the differential side joint away and out of the front axle housing.

13. Inspect the drive axle shaft. Refer to Halfshaft Assembly Replacement .

1. Install the differential-side joint of the right drive axle shaft into the front axle housing.

Ensure that the snap ring seats into the differential side gear.

2. Install the wheel side joint of the right drive axle shaft into the steering knuckle.
3. Use a hydraulic jack in order to support the right front control arm.
4. Install the following components to the right front control arm:

•	The steering knuckle

•	The lower ball joint

5. Secure the steering knuckle and lower ball joint with three nuts and bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the lower ball joint bolts and the nuts to 85 N·m (63 lb ft).

6. Remove the hydraulic jack.
7. Install the drive axle shaft spindle washer onto the drive axle shaft.
8. Install the drive axle shaft snap ring onto the end of the drive axle.



9. Install the locking hub cover onto the locking hub body.

Ensure that the index key (1) the locking hub cover (2) aligned with the notched portion in the locking hub body.

10. Secure the locking hub cover with Allen® head bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the locking hub cover bolts to 33 N·m (24 lb ft).

11. Install the right front tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Wheel Installation .
12. Install the front skid plate to the vehicle (if the vehicle is equipped).
13. Secure the front skid plate with four bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the four skid plate bolts to 54 N·m (40 lb ft).

14. Lower the vehicle.