Page 874 of 1672
FRONT AXLE
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION 54-1
FRONT AXLE DESCRIPTION AND OPERAT ION
Front axle component layout
1Stake nut
2Hub flange
3Hub bearing
4Steering knuckle
5Drive shaft
6Oil seal
7Bolt
8Bolt
9Washer10Drive flange
11Oil seal
12Differential unit
13Drain plug
14Axle casing
15Breather tube
16Oil level plug
17'O' ring
Page 875 of 1672

FRONT AXLE
54-2 DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
Description
General
The front axle consists of an axle casing with a differential unit attached to the right of the vehicle centre line. A wheel
hub is installed in a steering knuckle at each end of the axle casing and connected to the differential unit by a drive
shaft.
Axle casing
The axle casing is of welded construction, with brackets on the casing exterior for attachment to the front suspension.
Yokes at each end of the casing incorporate upper and lower ball joints for attachment of the steering knuckles.
A differential cover on the front of the axle casing contains an oil level plug for checking and replenishment of the
differential lubricating oil. A magnetic drain plug is installed on the underside of the casing. An oil seal is installed in
each end of the axle casing to prevent leakage past the drive shafts.
The interior of the axle casing is ventilated through a breather tube inserted in a red plastic sleeve in the top of the
casing. The open end of the breather tube is located in the left rear corner of the engine compartment.
Differential unit
The differential unit is of the spiral bevel type, lubricated by splash oil. The unit consists of a differential carrier
attached to a pinion housing. In the pinion housing, the pinion is splined to a drive flange which is secured with a bolt
and washer. An oil seal prevents leakage past the drive flange.
Steering knuckle
The steering knuckles are mounted on upper and lower ball joints in the yokes at the end of the axle casing. A tension
collet, in the lower mounting point of each steering knuckle, accommodates manufacturing tolerances to enable the
correct tightening of both ball joints. Lugs are incorporated on the steering knuckles for attachment of the steering
system drag link and track rod.
Page 878 of 1672
FRONT AXLE
REPAIRS 54-5
REPAIRS
Differential - assembly
$% 54.10.01
Remove
1.Raise front of vehicle.
WARNING: Do not work on or under a
vehicle supported only by a jack. Always
support the vehicle on safety stands.
2.Remove front road wheels.
3.Drain oil from differential.
+ MAINTENANCE, PROCEDURES,
Front and rear axle.
4.If same components to be refitted, reference
mark propeller shaft and mating components.
5.Remove 4 nuts and bolts securing propeller
shaft to differential. Release propeller shaft and
tie aside.
6.Remove LH and RH front brake discs.
+ BRAKES, REPAIRS, Brake disc -
front.7.Disconnect each ABS sensor multiplug.
8.Release each harness from brake hose and
hose bracket.
Page 879 of 1672

FRONT AXLE
54-6 REPAIRS
9.Remove 4 bolts securing each front wheel hub
to front axle.
10.Release wheel hubs from front axle. Remove
wheel hubs and drive shafts from front axle.
11.Remove oil seal from axle casing.
12.Remove 10 bolts securing differential to axle
casing. Release and remove differential from
axle casing.Refit
1.Clean drive shaft oil seal recess, oil seal
running surface, wheel hub and axle mating
faces.
2.Using a suitable solvent, clean old RTV sealant
from differential and axle mating faces.
3.Apply RTV sealant to differential or axle mating
face.
4.Apply Loctite 243 to threads of differential
securing bolts.
5.Fit differential to axle, fit bolts and tighten to 55
Nm (41 lbf.ft).
6.Position propeller shaft and align reference
marks. Fit bolts and tighten to 47 Nm (35 lbf.ft).
7.Lubricate oil seal lip and running surface with
clean differential oil.
+ CAPACITIES, FLUIDS AND
LUBRICANTS, Lubrication.
8.Using LRT-54-012 and LRT-99-003, fit new
drive shaft oil seal to axle casing.
9.Apply anti-seize compound to wheel hub and
steering knuckle mating faces.
10.Ensure ABS harnesses are located in cut out in
steering knuckles.
11.Fit drive shafts in axle casing and align wheel
hubs with steering knuckles. Fit wheel hub bolts
and tighten to 100 Nm (74 lbf.ft).
12.Connect each ABS sensor multiplug and
secure harness to harness bracket and brake
hose.
Page 880 of 1672
FRONT AXLE
REPAIRS 54-7
13.Fit front brake discs.
+ BRAKES, REPAIRS, Brake disc -
front.
14.Fit front road wheels and tighten nuts to 140
Nm (103 lbf.ft).
15.Remove stand(s) and lower vehicle.
16.Fill differential with oil.
+ MAINTENANCE, PROCEDURES,
Front and rear axle.
Seal - differential pinion
$% 54.10.20
Remove
1.Raise front of vehicle.
WARNING: Do not work on or under a
vehicle supported only by a jack. Always
support the vehicle on safety stands.
2.Reference mark front propeller shaft for
reassembly.
3.Remove 4 nuts and bolts securing propeller
shaft to differential. Release propeller shaft and
tie aside.
4.Using LRT-51-003 to restrain pinion flange,
remove bolt and washer securing pinion flange.
Remove pinion flange.
5.Position container to catch oil spillage.
Page 881 of 1672
FRONT AXLE
54-8 REPAIRS
6.Using a suitable lever, remove pinion oil seal.
Take care to avoid damage to oil seal
recess.
Refit
1.Clean pinion oil seal recess and pinion flange.
2.Lubricate pinion oil seal lip with clean
differential oil.
+ CAPACITIES, FLUIDS AND
LUBRICANTS, Lubrication.
3.Using LRT-51-010 , fit pinion oil seal. 4.Fit pinion flange and securing bolt and washer.
Using LRT- 51-003, restrain pinion flange and
tighten pinion flange bolt to 100 Nm (74 lbf.ft).
5.Position propeller shaft and align reference
marks. Fit nuts and bolts and tighten to 47 Nm
(35 lbf.ft).
6.Remove stand(s) and lower vehicle.
7.Check differential oil level.
+ MAINTENANCE, PROCEDURES,
Front and rear axle.
Page 883 of 1672

FRONT AXLE
54-10 REPAIRS
9.Remove oil seal from axle casing.
Refit
1.Clean drive shaft oil seal recess, oil seal
running surface, wheel hub and swivel hub
mating faces.
2.Lubricate oil seal lip and running surface with
clean differential oil.
+ CAPACITIES, FLUIDS AND
LUBRICANTS, Lubrication.
3.Using tool LRT-54-012 and tool LRT-99-003,
fit new drive shaft oil seal to axle casing. 4.Apply anti-seize compound to wheel hub and
steering knuckle mating faces.
5.Ensure ABS harness is located in cut out in
steering knuckle.
6.Fit drive shaft and wheel hub to axle casing and
align wheel hub with steering knuckle. Fit wheel
hub bolts and tighten to 100 Nm (74 lbf.ft).
7.Connect ABS sensor multiplug and secure
harness to harness bracket and brake hose.
8.Fit front brake disc.
+ BRAKES, REPAIRS, Brake disc -
front.
9.Fit road wheel and tighten nuts to 140 Nm (103
lbf.ft).
10.Remove stand(s) and lower vehicle.
11.Check differential oil level.
+ MAINTENANCE, PROCEDURES,
Front and rear axle.
Page 975 of 1672

FRONT SUSPENSION
60-36 REPAIRS
9.Remove 4 bolts securing wheel hub to steering
knuckle.
10.Release wheel hub from steering knuckle, then
remove wheel hub and drive shaft assembly
from axle.
CAUTION: Do NOT remove the ABS sensor
from the hub. The hub and the sensor are
supplied as an assembly.
11.Position the wheel hub and drive shaft on a
press, place supports beneath the wheel studs
and press the drive shaft from the wheel hub.
12.Remove drive shaft oil seal from axle casing. Refit
1.Clean drive shaft oil seal recess, drive shaft
splines, oil seal running surface, wheel hub
and steering knuckle mating faces, ABS
sensor and sensor recess.
2.Lubricate lip of new drive shaft oil seal and
running surface on drive shaft with clean
differential oil.
+ CAPACITIES, FLUIDS AND
LUBRICANTS, Lubrication.
3.Use tool LRT-51-012 to fit new drive shaft oil
seal to axle casing.
4.Fit drive shaft to axle casing.
5.Apply anti-seize compound to wheel hub and
steering knuckle mating face.
M51 0057