Chevrolet Trax: Front wheel drive shaft inner joint and boot replacement

Special Tools

• CH-48894 Wheel Drive Shaft Boot Clamp Pliers
• DT-35910 Drive Axle Boot Clamp Pliers

For equivalent regional tools, refer to Special Tools.

Disassemble Procedure

1. Remove the wheel drive shaft from the vehicle. Refer to Front Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement - Left Side, and Front Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement - Right Side.

Fig. 41: View Of Front Wheel Drive Shaft Inner Joint

2. Install the wheel drive shaft (1) in a soft jawed vise.

Fig. 42: View Of Wheel Drive Shaft Components

3. Using a pair of side cutters, remove and discard the small boot clamp (4) from the boot (3).
4. Using the appropriate tool, remove and discard the large boot clamp (2) from the boot (3).

Fig. 43: Inner Tripot Housing

5. Remove the boot (4) and the boot adaptor (3) from the from the tripot housing (1).
6. Using a bronze bar and hammer, remove the inner tripot housing (1) from the wheel drive shaft (2).

Fig. 44: View Of Tripot Spider & Retaining Ring

7. Using the appropriate tool, remove the outer tripot spider retaining ring (1) from the wheel drive shaft (5).
8. Remove the tripot spider (2) from the wheel drive shaft (5).
9. Using the appropriate tool, remove the inner tripot retaining ring (3), if equipped, from the wheel drive shaft (5).
10. Remove the wheel drive shaft boot (4) from the wheel drive shaft (5).

Assemble Procedure

Fig. 45: Identifying Groove In Wheel Drive Shaft

1. Install the boot (1) on the wheel drive shaft (3).
2. Ensure that the boot (1) is properly seated in the groove (2) in the wheel drive shaft.

Fig. 46: View Of Tripot Spider & Retaining Ring

3. Using the appropriate tool, install the inner tripot retaining ring (3), if equipped.

NOTE: Position the chamfer of tripot spider toward the wheel drive shaft boot.

4. Install the tripot spider (2) until just touches the shoulder on the wheel drive shaft (5).
5. Using the appropriate tool, install the outer tripot spider retaining ring (1).

Fig. 47: Identifying Pliers Breaker Bar, Torque Wrench, Ratchet & Gap Measurement

6. Using the DT-35910 pliers with a ratchet wrench and a breaker bar (1), close the boot clamp (2) until the gap (3) measures 1.9 mm (0.07 in).

Fig. 48: Inner Tripot Housing

7. Install the tripot housing (1) on the wheel drive shaft (2) using a block of wood and a hammer.
8. Install the boot adaptor (3) and the wheel drive shaft boot (4) on the tripot housing (1).

Fig. 49: Place Approximately Half Container Of Grease From Service Kit In Boot And Then Half In Tripod Housing

9. Place approximately half of the lubricant (2) in the boot (1) and the remaining half in the tripot housing (3).

Fig. 50: Latching Large Seal Retaining Clamp

NOTE: Ensure that the boot clamp (3) is properly positioned around the entire circumference of the boot (2).

10. Using the CH-48894 pliers (1), close the boot clamp (3).
11. Remove any of the excess lubricant from the tripot housing and wheel drive shaft.
12. Move the tripot joint housing in a circular motion to distribute the lubricant in the tripot housing.
13. Remove the wheel drive shaft from the vise.
14. Install the wheel drive shaft in the vehicle. Refer to Front Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement - Left Side, and Front Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement - Right Side.

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