GM 88957232
CV Joints

In order to remove the front-wheel drive shaft: gather the necessary tools: drive shaft seal clamp pliers (J 42572). Start by wrapping a shop towel over the Axle Shaft and laying the wheel drive shaft horizontally in a bench vise. Cut off and throw away the large and small seal retaining clamps from the outer joint seal using a side cutter or appropriate tool. Remove the seal off of the joint outer race wipe the grease off from the joint inner race or cage and balls then remove the outer joint end of the Axle Shaft by loading the outer joint housing horizontally set a wood block in between the seal and the joint then strike the wood block with a hammer to squeeze the Axle Shaft retaining clip. If need be use a brass drift on the inner race to help for this. After the outer joint is removed, you may throw away the Axle Shaft retaining ring and seal, and wash the parts thoroughly with solvent while air drying. Check the inner race, outer race, cage, balls, and Axle Shaft for damage and wear out. For assembly, place the big radius corners up, pushing the inner race into the cage and making sure it is entirely assembled. Line up the inner race ball tracks with the cage windows, and wrap a shop towel around the joint outer race splined shaft, then put the outer race in a bench vise vertically. Line up the cage and inner race with the outer one, introduce the balls in sequence, and fill the outer joint with about 60 percent of the grease from the service kit. Following the installation of the seal and new retaining ring on the Axle Shaft, then engage the inner race splines onto the Axle Shaft splines, compress the Axle Shaft retaining ring, and drive the outer joint onto the shaft using a wood block and hammer. Finally, crimp the small and large seal retaining clamps with drive shaft seal clamp pliers (J 42572) by ensuring that you have good tension and also inspect the outer joint for smooth operation by spinning the wheel drive shaft for several times.

Remove the housing from the tripot joint spider and the wheel drive shaft bar, then discard the old retaining ring using the Snap Ring Pliers (J 8059).

Install the drive axle shaft in a soft jawed vice.

Position the boot on the wheel drive shaft, ensuring it is properly seated in the grooved wheel drive shaft.

Wrap a shop towel around the axle shaft and place the wheel drive shaft horizontally in a bench vise.

Use the Drive Shaft Seal Clamp Pliers (J 42572) to crimp both the small and large seal retaining clamps, ensuring they are tightened to a gap of 1 mm (0.039 inch) and held for no less than 2 seconds.

Compress the axle shaft ring spacer and press the end of the retaining ring into the axle shaft groove.

Unlatch it with the Drive Axle Seal Clamp Pliers (J 35566) and remove it from the tripot joint.

Install the new wheel drive shaft large retaining ring, ensuring it seats into the large ring groove, followed by the small retaining ring into its groove.

Wrap a shop towel around the joint outer race splined shaft and secure it vertically in a bench vise.

Inspect the inner joint for damage and excessive wear.

Carefully tap around the tripot spider face with a brass drift and hammer.

Wrap a shop towel around the axle shaft and secure the wheel drive shaft horizontally in a bench vise.

Position the small seal retaining clamp into the boot, then position the seal and small retaining clamp to the boot groove on the wheel axle shaft.