1999 DODGE NEON differential

INNER TRIPOD JOINT SEAL BOOT
REMOVAL
To remove sealing boot from driveshaft for replace-
ment, the driveshaft assembly must be removed from
the vehicle. See Servicing Driveshaft in this section
for the required driveshaft removal and replacement
procedure.
The inner tripod joints use no internal retention in
the tripod housing to keep the spider assembly in the
housing. Therefore, do not pull on the interconnect-
ing shaft to disengage tripod housing from transmis-
sion stub shaft. Removal in this manner will cause
damage to the inboard joint sealing boots.
(1) Remove the driveshaft requiring boot replace-
ment from the vehicle. See Servicing Driveshaft in
this section for the required driveshaft removal pro-
cedure.
(2) Remove large boot clamp that retains inner tri-
pod joint sealing boot to tripod joint housing (Fig. 22)
and discard. Then remove small clamp that retains
inner tripod joint sealing boot to interconnecting
shaft and discard. Remove the sealing boot from the
tripod housing and slide it down the interconnecting
shaft.
CAUTION: When removing the spider joint from the
tripod joint housing, hold the rollers in place on the
spider trunions to prevent the rollers and needle
bearings from falling away.
(3) Slide the interconnecting shaft and spider
assembly out of the tripod joint housing (Fig. 23).
(4) Remove snap ring that retains spider assembly
to interconnecting shaft (Fig. 24). Remove the spider
assembly from interconnecting shaft. If spider assem-
bly will not come off interconnecting shaft by hand, it
can be removed by tapping spider assembly with a
brass drift (Fig. 25).Do not hit the outer tripodbearings in an attempt to remove spider assem-
bly from interconnecting shaft.
Fig. 22 Inner Tripod Joint Sealing Boot Clamps
Fig. 23 Spider Assembly Joint Removal from
Housing
Fig. 24 Spider Assembly Retaining Snap Ring
Fig. 25 Spider Assembly Removal from
Interconnecting Shaft
PLDIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINE 3 - 9
DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)

(5) Slide sealing boot off interconnecting shaft.
(6) Thoroughly clean and inspect spider assembly,
tripod joint housing, and interconnecting shaft for
any signs of excessive wear.If any parts show
signs of excessive wear, the driveshaft assembly
will require replacement. Component parts of
these driveshaft assemblies are not serviceable.
INSTALLATION
NOTE: The inner tripod joint sealing boots are
made from two different types of material. High±t-
emperature applications use silicone rubber
whereas standard temperature applications use
Hytrel plastic. The silicone sealing boots are soft
and pliable. The Hytrel sealing boots are stiff and
rigid. The replacement sealing boot MUST BE the
same type of material as the sealing boot that was
removed.
(1) Slide inner tripod joint seal boot retaining
clamp, onto interconnecting shaft. Then slide the
replacement inner tripod joint sealing boot onto
interconnecting shaft.Inner tripod joint seal boot
MUST be positioned on interconnecting shaft,
so the raised bead on the inside of the seal boot
is in groove on interconnecting shaft (Fig. 26).
(2) Install spider assembly onto interconnecting
shaft with chamfer on spider assembly toward inter-
connecting shaft (Fig. 27). Spider assembly must be
installed on interconnecting shaft far enough to fully
install spider retaining snap ring. If spider assembly
will not fully install on interconnecting shaft by
hand, it can be installed by tapping the spider body
with a brass drift (Fig. 28).Do not hit the outer
tripod bearings in an attempt to install spider
assembly on interconnecting shaft.(3) Install the spider assembly to interconnecting
shaft retaining snap ring into groove on end of inter-
connecting shaft (Fig. 29). Be sure the snap ring is
fully seated into groove on interconnecting shaft.
(4) Distribute 1/2 the amount of grease provided in
the seal boot service package (DO NOT USE ANY
OTHER TYPE OF GREASE) into tripod housing. Put
the remaining amount into the sealing boot.
(5) Align tripod housing with spider assembly and
then slide tripod housing over spider assembly and
interconnecting shaft (Fig. 30).
(6) Install inner tripod joint seal boot to intercon-
necting shaft clamp evenly on sealing boot.
(7) Clamp sealing boot onto interconnecting shaft
using crimper, Special Tool C-4975-A and the follow-
ing procedure. Place crimping tool C- 4975-A over
bridge of clamp (Fig. 31). Tighten nut on crimping
tool C- 4975-A until jaws on tool are closed com-
pletely together, face to face (Fig. 32).
Fig. 26 Sealing Boot Installation on Interconnecting
Shaft
Fig. 27 Spider Assembly Installation on
Interconnecting Shaft
Fig. 28 Installing Spider Assembly On
Interconnecting Shaft
3 - 10 DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINEPL
DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)

CAUTION: Seal must not be dimpled, stretched, or
out±of±shape in any way. If seal is NOT shaped cor-
rectly, equalize pressure in seal and shape it by
hand.
(8) Position sealing boot into the tripod housing
retaining groove. Install seal boot retaining clamp
evenly on sealing boot.
CAUTION: The following positioning procedure
determines the correct air pressure inside the inner
tripod joint assembly prior to clamping the sealing
boot to inner tripod joint housing. If this procedure
is not done prior to clamping sealing boot to tripod
joint housing, boot durability can be adversely
affected.
CAUTION: When venting the inner tripod joint
assembly, use care so inner tripod sealing boot
does not get punctured or, in any other way, dam-
aged. If sealing boot is punctured or damaged while
being vented, the sealing boot can not be used.
Fig. 29 Spider Assembly Retaining Snap Ring
Installed
Fig. 30 Installing Tripod Housing on Spider
Assembly
Fig. 31 Crimping Tool Installed on Sealing Boot
Clamp
Fig. 32 Sealing Boot Retaining Clamp Installed
PLDIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINE 3 - 11
DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)

(9) Insert a trim stick between the tripod joint and
the sealing boot to vent inner tripod joint assembly
(Fig. 33).When inserting trim stick between tri-
pod housing and sealing boot, ensure trim stick
is held flat and firmly against the tripod hous-
ing. If this is not done, damage to the sealing
boot can occur.If inner tripod joint has a Hytrel
(hard plastic) sealing boot, be sure trim stick is
inserted between soft rubber insert and tripod hous-
ing, and not the hard plastic sealing boot and soft
rubber insert.
(10) With trim stick inserted between sealing boot
and tripod joint housing, position inner tripod joint
on driveshaft until correct sealing boot edge to edge
length is obtained for type of sealing boot material
being used (Fig. 34) (Fig. 35). Then remove the trim
stick.
(11) Clamp tripod joint sealing boot to tripod joint
using required procedure for type of boot clamp
application. If seal boot uses crimp type boot clamp,clamp sealing boot onto tripod housing using crimper,
Special Tool C-4975-A. Place crimping tool C- 4975-A
over bridge of clamp (Fig. 36). Tighten nut on crimp-
ing tool C- 4975-A until jaws on tool are closed com-
pletely together, face±to±face (Fig. 37).
(12) If seal boot uses low profile latching type boot
clamp, clamp sealing boot onto tripod housing using
clamp locking tool, Snap-OntYA3050 (or an equiva-
lent). Place prongs of clamp locking tool in the holes
of the clamp (Fig. 38). Squeeze tool together until top
band of clamp is latched behind the two tabs on
lower band of clamp (Fig. 39).
(13) Install the driveshaft requiring boot replace-
ment back on the vehicle. See Servicing Driveshaft in
this section for the required driveshaft installation
procedure.
Fig. 33 Trim Stick Inserted for Venting Tripod Joint
Fig. 34 Sealing Boot End to End Length with Hytrel
Boot
Fig. 35 Sealing Boot End to End Length with
Silicone Boot
Fig. 36 Crimping Tool Installed on Sealing Boot
Clamp
3 - 12 DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINEPL
DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)

OUTER C/V JOINT SEAL BOOT
REMOVAL
To remove outer C/V joint sealing boot from a
driveshaft for replacement, the driveshaft assembly
must be removed from the vehicle. See Servicing
Driveshaft in this section for the required driveshaft
removal and replacement procedure.
(1) Remove driveshaft assembly requiring boot
replacement from vehicle. See Servicing Driveshaft in
this section for the required driveshaft removal pro-
cedure.
(2) Remove large boot clamp retaining C/V joint
sealing boot to C/V joint housing (Fig. 40) and dis-
card. Remove small clamp that retains outer C/V
joint sealing boot to interconnecting shaft and dis-
card. Remove sealing boot from outer C/V joint hous-
ing and slide it down interconnecting shaft.
(3) Wipe away grease to expose outer C/V joint and
interconnecting shaft.
(4) Remove outer C/V joint from interconnecting
shaft using the following procedure: Support inter-
connecting shaft in a viseequipped with protec-
tive caps on jaws of vise to prevent damage to
interconnecting shaft.Then, using asoft±faced
hammer,sharply hit the end of the C/V joint housing
to dislodge housing from internal circlip on intercon-
necting shaft (Fig. 41). Then slide outer C/V joint off
end of interconnecting shaft, joint may have to be
tapped off shaft using asoft±facedhammer.
Fig. 37 Sealing Boot Retaining Clamp Installed
Fig. 38 Clamping Tool Installed on Sealing Boot
Clamp
Fig. 39 Sealing Boot Clamp Correctly Installed
Fig. 40 Outer C/V Joint Seal Boot Clamps
PLDIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINE 3 - 13
DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)

(5) Remove large circlip (Fig. 42) from the inter-
connecting shaft before attempting to remove outer
C/V joint sealing boot.
(6) Slide failed sealing boot off interconnecting
shaft.
(7) Thoroughly clean and inspect outer C/V joint
assembly and interconnecting joint for any signs of
excessive wear.If any parts show signs of exces-
sive wear, the driveshaft assembly will require
replacement. Component parts of these drive-
shaft assemblies are not serviceable.
INSTALLATION
(1) Slide new sealing boot to interconnecting shaft
retaining clamp onto interconnecting shaft. Slide the
outer C/V joint assembly sealing boot onto the inter-
connecting shaft (Fig. 43).Seal boot MUST be
positioned on interconnecting shaft so the
raised bead on the inside of the seal boot is in
groove on interconnecting shaft.(2) Align splines on interconnecting shaft with
splines on cross of outer C/V joint assembly and start
outer C/V joint onto interconnecting shaft.
(3) Install outer C/V joint assembly onto intercon-
necting shaft by using asoft±facedhammer and
tapping end of stub axle (with nut installed) until
outer C/V joint is fully seated on interconnecting
shaft (Fig. 44).
Fig. 41 Outer C/V Joint Removal from
Interconnecting Shaft
Fig. 42 Circlip Removal from Interconnecting Shaft
Fig. 43 Sealing Boot Installation on Interconnecting
Shaft
Fig. 44 Outer C/V Joint Installation on
Interconnecting Shaft
3 - 14 DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINEPL
DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)

(4) Outer C/V joint assembly must be installed on
interconnecting shaft until cross of outer C/V joint
assembly is seated against circlip on interconnecting
shaft (Fig. 45).
(5) Distribute 1/2 the amount of grease provided in
seal boot service package (DO NOT USE ANY
OTHER TYPE OF GREASE) into outer C/V joint
assembly housing. Put the remaining amount into
the sealing boot.
(6) Install outer C/V joint sealing boot to intercon-
necting shaft clamp evenly on sealing boot.
(7) Clamp sealing boot onto interconnecting shaft
using crimper, Special Tool C-4975-A and the follow-
ing procedure. Place crimping tool C- 4975-A over
bridge of clamp (Fig. 46). Tighten nut on crimping
tool C- 4975-A until jaws on tool are closed com-
pletely together, face to face (Fig. 47).CAUTION: Seal must not be dimpled, stretched, or
out±of±shape in any way. If seal is NOT shaped cor-
rectly, equalize pressure in seal and shape it by
hand.
(8) Position outer C/V joint sealing boot into its
retaining groove on outer C/V joint housing. Install
sealing boot to outer C/V joint retaining clamp evenly
on sealing boot.
(9) Clamp sealing boot onto outer C/V joint hous-
ing using Crimper, Special Tool C-4975-A and the fol-
lowing procedure. Place crimping tool C- 4975-A over
bridge of clamp (Fig. 48). Tighten nut on crimping
tool C- 4975-A until jaws on tool are closed com-
pletely together, face to face (Fig. 49).
Fig. 45 Outer C/V Joint Correctly Installed on
Interconnecting Shaft
Fig. 46 Crimping Tool Installed on Sealing Boot
Clamp
Fig. 47 Sealing Boot Retaining Clamp Installed
Fig. 48 Crimping Tool Installed on Sealing Boot
Clamp
PLDIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINE 3 - 15
DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)

(10) Install the driveshaft requiring boot replace-
ment back on the vehicle. See Servicing Driveshaft in
this section for the required driveshaft installation
procedure.
SPECIFICATIONS
TORQUE
DESCRIPTION TORQUE
Caliper To Knuckle Bolt........31N´m(23ft.lbs.)
Driveshaft Nut.............183 N´m (135 ft. lbs.)
Front Wheel Lug Nuts.......135 N´m (100 ft. lbs.)
Knuckle To Ball Joint Bolt......95N´m(70ft.lbs.)
Tie Rod End To Knuckle........61N´m(45ft.lbs.)
SPECIAL TOOLS
DRIVESHAFT
Fig. 49 Sealing Boot Retaining Clamp Installed
Tie Rod Remover MB-990635
Boot Clamp Installer C-4975A
3 - 16 DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINEPL
DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)