Half Shaft; Half Shaft Description; Operation - Chrysler PT Cruiser Service & Repair Manual

3 - 2

HALF SHAFT

HALF SHAFT (Continued)
1 - STUB AXLE
2 - OUTER C/V JOINT
3 - OUTER C/V JOINT BOOT
4 - TUNED RUBBER DAMPER WEIGHT
5 - INTERCONNECTING SHAFT - RH
6 - OUTER C/V JOINT BOOT
7 - STUB AXLE
Diesel and Turbo Models
Vehicles equipped with the 2.2L Turbo Diesel and
the 2.4L Turbo Gasoline utilize an equal-length half-
shaft system. The system incorporates two halfshaft
assemblies (left and right) that consist of an inner
and outer constant velocity (CV) joint and a solid
interconnecting shaft, and an intermediate shaft/
bearing assembly as shown in (Fig. 2)
The left halfshaft uses a tuned-rubber damper
weight mounted to the interconnecting shaft (Fig. 2).
When replacing a halfshaft, be sure the replacement
halfshaft has the same damper weight as the origi-
nal.
Both halfshaft assemblies use the same type of
inner and outer joints. The inner joint of both half-
shaft assemblies is a tripod joint, and the outer joint
of both halfshaft assemblies is a Rzeppa joint. Both
tripod joints and Rzeppa joints are true constant
velocity (C/V) joint assemblies. The inner tripod joint
allows for the changes in halfshaft length through
the jounce and rebound travel of the front suspen-
sion.
On vehicles equipped with ABS brakes, the outer
C/V joint is equipped with a tone wheel used to
determine vehicle speed for ABS brake operation.
The left halfshaft inner tripod joint and the inter-
mediate shaft are both splined into the transaxle side
gears. The inner tripod joints are retained using a
Fig. 1 Unequal Length Halfshaft System
8 - OUTER C/V JOINT
9 - RIGHT HALFSHAFT
10 - INNER TRIPOD JOINT BOOT
11 - INNER TRIPOD JOINT
12 - INNER TRIPOD JOINT
13 - INNER TRIPOD JOINT BOOT
14 - INTERCONNECTING SHAFT - LH
snap ring located in the stub shaft of the tripod joint.
The outer C/V joint has a stub shaft that is splined
into the wheel hub and retained by a hub nut, nut
lock, wave washer and cotter pin (Fig. 3).
NOTE: This vehicle does not use a rubber–lip bear-
ing seal as on previous front–wheel–drive cars to
prevent contamination of the front wheel bearing.
On these vehicles, the face of the outer C/V joint
fits deeply into the steering knuckle, using a close
outer C/V joint–to–steering knuckle fit. This design
deters direct water splash on bearing seal while
allowing any water that gets in, to run out the bot-
tom of the steering knuckle bearing bore. It is
important to thoroughly clean the outer C/V joint
and the wheel bearing area in the steering knuckle
before it is assembled after servicing.

OPERATION

Halfshaft assemblies are designed to transmit
power from the transaxle to the front wheels, while
allowing for powertrain and suspension flex.
PT