Your Vehicle: 2001 Ford Escort ZX2 L4-2.0L DOHC VIN 3
 
Vehicle » Transmission and Drivetrain » Drive Axles, Bearings and Joints » Axle Shaft Assembly » Axle Shaft » Service and Repair » Halfshaft  
 
 
  Halfshaft  
 

Halfshaft

  

Special Tool(s)

Removal

NOTE: LH shown, RH similar.

  1. Raise and support the vehicle.

  

  1. Remove the front tire and wheel.
  1. Remove the lug nuts.
  2. Remove the front tire and wheel.

  

  1. Raise the staked portion of the front axle wheel hub retainer using a small cape chisel.

  

  1. Remove and discard the front axle wheel hub retainer.

  

  1. Remove the cotter pin and the tie rod end nut.

  

  1. Use Tie Rod End Remover to separate the (A) tie rod end from the (B) front wheel knuckle.

  

  1. Remove the stabilizer bar link.
  1. Remove the front stabilizer bar end nut.
  2. Remove the front stabilizer bar end bolt.
  3. Remove the upper front stabilizer bar end retainer.
  4. Remove the front stabilizer bar end bushing above the front stabilizer bar.
  5. Remove the front stabilizer bar end bushing below the front stabilizer bar.
  6. Remove the front stabilizer bar end bushing.
  7. Remove the front stabilizer bar end bushing above the front sub-frame.
  8. Remove the front stabilizer bar end bushing below the front sub-frame.
  9. Remove the lower front stabilizer bar end retainer.

  

  1. Remove the nut and the ball joint pinch bolt.

  

  1. Pry down on the (A) front suspension lower arm separating the (B) front suspension lower arm ball joint from the (C) front wheel knuckle.

  

  1. Pull outward on the (A) front wheel knuckle then pull the (B) front wheel driveshaft and joint from the front wheel knuckle.

  

  1. If removing the LH front wheel driveshaft and joint, remove the crossmember to access the front wheel driveshaft and joint.

  

  1. If removing the RH front wheel driveshaft and joint, remove the RH side shield.
  1. Remove the RH side shield bolts.
  2. Remove the RH side shield.

  

  1. If removing the RH front wheel driveshaft and joint, remove the RH splash shield.
  1. Remove the RH splash shield bolts.
  2. Remove the RH splash shield.

  

  1. CAUTION: Extreme care must be taken to ensure that the pry bar does not damage the transaxle case, the transaxle oil seal, the front wheel driveshaft and the joint and joint boot.

If removing the LH front wheel driveshaft and joint, insert a pry bar between the front wheel driveshaft and joint and the transaxle case and pry outward, releasing the front wheel driveshaft and joint from the differential side gears.

  1. Position the heater tube aside.

  

  1. If removing the Coupe M/T RH front wheel driveshaft and joint, remove the bolts from the center support bearing.

  

  1. Lower the Coupe M/T driveshaft assembly and remove the halfshaft from the differential side gears.

  

  1. Separate the Coupe M/T front wheel driveshaft and joint from the center support bearing and the halfshaft.
    • Inspect the center support bearing and the halfshaft; replace if necessary.

  

  1. Install Transaxle Plugs if both front wheel driveshaft and joints are removed.

Installation

  

  1. If equipped, install anew driveshaft bearing retainer circlip.

  

  1. Remove the transaxle plugs if necessary.

  

  1. NOTE: When seated properly, the driveshaft bearing retainer circlip can be felt as it snaps into the differential side gear groove.

Position the front wheel driveshaft and joint so the splines line up with the differential side gear splines. Push the front wheel driveshaft and joint into the differential side gear.

  

  1. If installing the Coupe RH driveshaft and joint with M/T, position the front wheel driveshaft and joint so that the splines line up with the splines in the halfshaft, and push the front wheel driveshaft and joint and the halfshaft together with the center support bearing.

  

  1. Position the Coupe M/T driveshaft assembly and push into the differential side gears.

  

  1. Position the Coupe M/T center support bearing and install the bolts.

  

  1. If installing the RH front wheel driveshaft and joint, install the RH side shield.
  1. Position the RH side shield.
  2. Install the RH side shield bolts.

  

  1. If installing the RH front wheel driveshaft and joint, install the RH splash shield.
  1. Position the RH splash shield.
  2. Install the RH splash shield bolts.

  

  1. Pull outward on the (A) front wheel knuckle and insert the (B) front wheel driveshaft and joint into the front wheel knuckle.

  

  1. Pry down on the (A) front suspension lower arm (3078), then install the (B) front suspension lower arm ball joint into the (C) front wheel knuckle.

  

  1. Position the crossmember(5025) and install the bolts.

  

  1. Install the ball joint pinch bolt and nut.

  

  1. Install the stabilizer bar link and tighten the bar end nut to the protruding bar end bolt length specification.

  

  1. NOTE: If the slot in the nut is not aligned to the hole, tighten the nut as necessary to align.

Position the tic rod end to the front wheel knuckle and install the tie rod end nut and a new cotter pin.

  

  1. Install a new front axle wheel hub retainer.

  

  1. CAUTION: If the front axle wheel hub retainer splits or cracks after staking, replace it.

Stake the front axle wheel hub retainer (the minimum specification is shown).

  

  1. Install the front wheel and tire.
  1. Install the front tire and wheel.
  2. Install the lug nuts.
  3. Tighten the lug nuts in sequence.
  1. Check and refill the transmission fluid.