2001 INFINITI QX4 service

FRONT & REAR AXLE
SECTION
AX
CONTENTS
FRONT AXLE..................................................................2
Precautions ..................................................................2
PRECAUTIONS.........................................................2
Preparation ..................................................................2
SPECIAL SERVICE TOOLS........................................2
COMMERCIAL SERVICE TOOLS................................2
Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH)
Troubleshooting ...........................................................3
NVH TROUBLESHOOTING CHART............................3
On-vehicle Service.......................................................3
FRONT AXLE PARTS................................................3
FRONT WHEEL BEARING.........................................4
DRIVE SHAFT...........................................................5
Wheel Hub and Rotor Disc..........................................6
COMPONENTS.........................................................6
REMOVAL.................................................................6
INSTALLATION..........................................................7
DISASSEMBLY..........................................................8
INSPECTION.............................................................8
ASSEMBLY...............................................................8
Knuckle Spindle ...........................................................9
REMOVAL.................................................................9
INSPECTION...........................................................10
INSTALLATION........................................................10
Drive Shaft .................................................................10
COMPONENTS.......................................................10
REMOVAL............................................................... 11
DISASSEMBLY........................................................ 11
INSPECTION...........................................................12
ASSEMBLY.............................................................13
INSTALLATION........................................................14
Service Data and Specifications (SDS).....................15
WHEEL BEARING (FRONT).....................................15
DRIVE SHAFT.........................................................16
REAR AXLE...................................................................17
Precautions ................................................................17
PRECAUTIONS.......................................................17
Preparation ................................................................17
SPECIAL SERVICE TOOLS......................................17
COMMERCIAL SERVICE TOOLS..............................18
Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH)
Troubleshooting .........................................................18
On-vehicle Service.....................................................18
REAR AXLE PARTS.................................................18
REAR WHEEL BEARING.........................................18
Components...............................................................19
Removal .....................................................................19
Inspection...................................................................21
AXLE SHAFT...........................................................21
BEARING CAGE......................................................21
REAR AXLE HOUSING............................................21
Installation ..................................................................21
Service Data and Specifications (SDS).....................22
WHEEL BEARING (REAR).......................................22
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SBR686C
Precautions
PRECAUTIONSNBAX0001IWhen installing rubber parts, final tightening must be car-
ried out under unladen condition* with tires on ground.
*Fuel, radiator coolant and engine oil full. Spare tire, jack,
hand tools and mats in designated positions.
IUse flare nut wrench when removing and installing brake
tubes.
IAfter installing removed suspension parts, check wheel
alignment and adjust if necessary.
IAlways torque brake lines when installing.
Preparation
SPECIAL SERVICE TOOLSNBAX0002The actual shapes of Kent-Moore tools may differ from those of special service tools illustrated here.
Tool number
(Kent-Moore No.)
Tool nameDescription
ST29020001
(J24319-01)
Ball joint remover
NT694
Removing tie-rod outer end and lower ball
joint
a: 34 mm (1.34 in)
b: 6.5 mm (0.256 in)
c: 61.5 mm (2.421 in)
KV401021S0
(Ð)
Bearing race drift
NT153
Installing wheel bearing outer race
KV40105400
(J36001)
Wheel bearing lock nut
wrench
NT154
Removing and installing wheel bearing lock
nut
COMMERCIAL SERVICE TOOLSNBAX0003
Tool name Description
1 Flare nut crowfoot
2 Torque wrench
NT360
Removing and installing each brake piping
a: 10 mm (0.39 in)
Hub cap drift
NT115
Installing hub cap
a: 57 mm (2.24 in) dia.
b: 46 mm (1.81 in) dia.
FRONT AXLE
Precautions
AX-2

Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH)
Troubleshooting
NBAX0034NVH TROUBLESHOOTING CHARTNBAX0034S01Use the chart below to help you find the cause of the symptom. If necessary, repair or replace these parts.
Reference pageÐ
AX-12
Ð
AX-6, 19
Ð
AX-4, 18
PD-3
PD-3
Refer to DRIVE SHAFT
in this chart.
Refer to AXLE
in this chart.
SU-3
SU-3
SU-3
BR-6
ST-6
Possible cause and
SUSPECTED PARTS
Excessive joint angle
Joint sliding resistance
Imbalance
Improper installation, looseness
Parts interference
Wheel bearing damage
PROPELLER SHAFT
DIFFERENTIAL
DRIVE SHAFT
AXLE
SUSPENSION
TIRES
ROAD WHEEL
BRAKES
STEERING
SymptomDRIVE SHAFTNoise, Vibration´´ ´´ ´ ´´´´´
Shake´ ´ ´ ´ ´´´´´
AXLENoise´´ ´´ ´ ´´´´´
Shake´´ ´ ´ ´´´´´
Vibration´´ ´ ´ ´´ ´
Shimmy´´ ´´´´´
Judder´ ´´´´´
Poor quality ride or
handling´´´ ´´´
´: Applicable
SMA525A
On-vehicle Service
FRONT AXLE PARTSNBAX0004Check front axle parts for excessive play, cracks, wear and other
damage.
1. Shake each front wheel to check for excessive play.
2. Retighten all nuts and bolts to the specified torque.
Tightening torque:
Refer to ªWheel Hub and Rotor Discº, AX-6.
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FRONT AXLE
Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) Troubleshooting
AX-3

SFA747B
FRONT WHEEL BEARINGNBAX00051. Check that wheel bearings operate smoothly.
2. Check axial end play.
Axial end play: 0 mm (0 in)
3. Adjust wheel bearing preload if there is any axial end play or
wheel bearing does not turn smoothly.
Preload AdjustmentNBAX0005S01Adjust wheel bearing preload after wheel bearing has been
replaced or front axle has been reassembled.
Adjust wheel bearing preload as follows:
1. Before adjustment, thoroughly clean all parts to prevent dirt
entry.
SFA891-A
2. Apply multi-purpose grease sparingly to the following parts:
IThreaded portion of spindle
IContact surface between wheel bearing lock washer (cham-
fered side) and outer wheel bearing
IGrease seal lip
IWheel hub (as shown at left)
SFA748B
3. Tighten wheel bearing lock nut with Tool.
: 78 - 98 N´m (8 - 10 kg-m, 58 - 72 ft-lb)
4. Turn wheel hub several times in both directions.
5. Loosen wheel bearing lock nut so that torque becomes 0 N´m
(0 kg-m, 0 ft-lb).
6. Retighten wheel bearing lock nut with Tool.
: 0.5 - 1.5 N´m (0.05 - 0.15 kg-m, 4.3 - 13.0 in-lb)
SFA747B
7. Turn wheel hub several times in both directions.
8. Retighten wheel bearing lock nut with Tool.
: 0.5 - 1.5 N´m (0.05 - 0.15 kg-m, 4.3 - 13.0 in-lb)
9. Measure wheel bearing axial end play.
Axial end play: 0 mm (0 in)
FRONT AXLE
On-vehicle Service (Cont'd)
AX-4

SMA580A
10. Measure starting force ªAº at wheel hub bolt.
SFA830
11. Install lock washer by tightening the lock nut within 15 to 30
degrees.
12. Turn wheel hub several times in both directions to seat wheel
bearing correctly.
13. Measure starting force ªBº at wheel hub bolt. Refer to proce-
dure 10.
14. Wheel bearing preload ªCº can be calculated as shown below.
C=BþA
Wheel bearing preload ªCº:
7.06 - 20.99 N (0.72 - 2.14 kg, 1.59 - 4.72 lb)
15. If wheel bearing preload ªCº is outside specifications, remove
lock washer. Tighten or loosen lock nut within±15 degrees
(Refer to step 11 above). Install lock washer, then repeat steps
12, 13 and 14.
16. Repeat above procedures until correct axial end play and
wheel bearing preload are obtained.
17. Install drive flange and wheel hub cap.
SFA901
DRIVE SHAFTNBAX0006ICheck boot and drive shaft for cracks, wear, damage and
grease leakage.
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FRONT AXLE
On-vehicle Service (Cont'd)
AX-5

SFA802B
2. Remove hub cap with suitable tool.
SFA753B
3. Remove snap ring with suitable tool.
4. Remove drive flange.
SFA364BA
5. Remove lock washer.
SFA754B
6. Remove wheel bearing lock nut.
SFA832
7. Remove wheel hub and wheel bearing.
Be careful not to drop outer bearing.
INSTALLATIONNBAX00091. After installing wheel hub and wheel bearing, adjust wheel
bearing preload.
Refer to ªPreload Adjustmentº, ªFRONT WHEEL BEARINGº,
ªOn-vehicle Serviceº, AX-4.
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FRONT AXLE
Wheel Hub and Rotor Disc (Cont'd)
AX-7

INSPECTIONNBAX0014Knuckle SpindleNBAX0014S01ICheck knuckle spindle for deformation, cracks and other dam-
age by using a magnetic exploration or dyeing test.
Needle BearingNBAX0014S02ICheck needle bearing for wear, scratches, pitting, flaking and
burn marks.
SFA962-A
INSTALLATIONNBAX00151. Install needle bearing into knuckle spindle.
Make sure that needle bearing is facing in proper direction.
Apply multi-purpose grease.
2. Install knuckle with wheel hub.
3. Install tie-rod end and lower ball joint.
SFA369BA
4. After installing knuckle spindle, adjust wheel bearing preload.
Refer to ªPreload Adjustmentº, ªFRONT WHEEL BEARINGº,
ªOn-vehicle Serviceº, AX-4.
5. After installing drive shaft, check drive shaft axial end play.
Do not reuse snap ring once it has been removed.
Refer to ªDrive Shaftº, AX-10.
Drive Shaft
COMPONENTSNBAX0016
SFA874-B
FRONT AXLE
Knuckle Spindle (Cont'd)
AX-10

SFA846-A
2. Install thrust washer onto drive shaft.
Make sure that thrust washer is facing in proper direction,
apply multi-purpose grease.
SFA762B
3. When installing drive shaft, adjust drive shaft axial end play by
selecting a suitable snap ring.
a. Temporarily install new snap ring on drive shaft in the same
thickness as it was installed before removal.
SFA847
b. Set dial gauge on drive shaft end.
c. Measure axial end play of drive shaft.
Axial end play: 0.45 mm (0.0177 in) or less
d. If axial end play is not within the specified limit, select another
snap ring.
1.1 mm (0.043 in)
1.3 mm (0.051 in)
1.5 mm (0.059 in)
1.7 mm (0.067 in)1.9 mm (0.075 in)
2.1 mm (0.083 in)
2.3 mm (0.091 in)
Service Data and Specifications (SDS)
WHEEL BEARING (FRONT)NBAX0022
Wheel bearing lock nutTightening torque 78 - 98 N´m (8 - 10 kg-m, 58 - 72 ft-lb)
Retightening torque after loosening wheel bearing
lock nut0.5 - 1.5 N´m (0.05 - 0.15 kg-m, 4.3 - 13.0 in-lb)
Axial end play 0 mm (0 in)
Starting force at wheel hub bolt N (kg, lb) A
Turning angle 15É - 30É
Starting force at wheel hub bolt N (kg, lb) B
Wheel bearing preload at wheel hub bolt B þ A 7.06 - 20.99 N (0.72 - 2.14 kg, 1.59 - 4.72 lb)
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FRONT AXLE
Drive Shaft (Cont'd)
AX-15