OEM Cadillac STS Drive Shaft

Cadillac STS Drive Shaft Parts and Q&A

• Drive Shaft
  15235576
  Q: How to replace the rear drive shaft in an AWD on Cadillac STS?

  A:

  Begin with the first task of raising and supporting your awd vehicle before proceeding with the replacement of the rear propeller shaft. You need to detach the rear Muffler while taking away the Exhaust Heat Shield which protects the center support bearing. A suitable jack stand needs to support the propeller shaft at the center support bearing position. The bolt removal for the center support bearing should be limited to the propeller shaft coupler-to-differential flange bolts which should remain connected to the propeller shaft. The next step involves removing propeller shaft nuts along with bolts and washers but keep defective or excessively worn parts for replacement. Before removing the CV Joint bolts from the propeller shaft to the transmission/transfer case flange users should detach the propeller shaft from the transmission/transfer case flange using a flat-bladed screwdriver. The rear differential flange should then be cleared of its propeller shaft along with the vehicle. A tiny amount of lubricant gm p/n 1051344 (Canadian P/N 993037) should be applied to both the rear propeller shaft center bushing and rear differential flange pilot shaft before installation. You should position the propeller shaft inside the vehicle with help present while ensuring the correct installation of any shims that support the center bearing. Install the mounting bolts of the center support bearing while tightening them to 50 n.m (37 lb ft). Ensure the yellow and orange dots on the propeller shaft and drive flange match to minimize vibrations during operation. The installation of reused propeller shaft-to-flange nuts and bolts requires cleaning threads with denatured alcohol followed by application of threadlocker gm p/n 12345493 (Canadian P/N 10953488). The rear propeller shaft coupler mounts to the differential flange then the bolt and washer are added after. The propeller shaft coupler-to-differential flange nuts must be attached to a torque specification of 85 n.m (63 lb ft). You should put the propeller shaft CV Joint to transfer case flange bolts on until they reach 36 n.m (27 lb ft) of torque (1-6 sequence). The Exhaust Heat Shield needs to be reattached to the center bearing and to the exhaust system while the vehicle should be lowered down to the ground.
• Drive Shaft
  15225526
  Q: How to replace the front drive shaft on Cadillac STS?

  A:

  The first step for front propeller shaft replacement is raising your vehicle and supporting it before removing the propeller shaft heat shield. Locate and make a mark for the constant velocity (CV) joint of the propeller shaft that attaches to the transfer case flange. The next step involves removing the propeller shaft CV Joint-to-differential flange bolts before placing a flat-bladed tool into the differential flange notch. Move the propeller shaft systematically backward towards the vehicle rear to detach its CV Joint from the differential pinion flange before removing the CV Joint-to-transfer case flange bolts. Use a flat-bladed tool to put into the transfer case flange notch then shift the propeller shaft forward for detachment from the transfer case flange. Check for rotational freedom between the CV Joint and propeller shaft tube and examine the cv joints for damage as well as seals and grease leaks and both joint bindings; any detection requires you to replace the front propeller shaft. The first step for installation requires positioning the tapered end of the CV Joint into the transfer case flange while you attach the propeller shaft to both transfer case and differential flanges. The propeller shaft-to-flange bolts must be replaced when damaged but should be cleaned first before using threadlocker gm p/n 12345493 (Canadian P/N 10953488) which requires 10 minutes to cure. The CV Joint-to-differential flange bolts require crescent washers for installation with a bolt torquing sequence of 1-6 to 40 n.m (29 lb ft). This procedure must also be done for CV Joint-to-transfer case flange bolts. Examine for any rotation between the CV Joint and propeller shaft tube before reinstalling the propeller shaft heat shield and returning the vehicle to its normal position.