Front Driveshaft Replacement

First, diagnose the driveshaft fault by checking for noise when turning the steering wheel to its limits. Lift the vehicle on a lift or with a jack (in the latter case, it is advisable to use axle stands for safety).

Remove the wheel corresponding to the driveshaft to be replaced. Using a 32mm socket, undo the driveshaft retaining nut located at the centre of the brake disc (it is recommended to use a pneumatic gun). With a 17mm socket, loosen the retaining nut of the ball joint of the front suspension arm (remove any cotter pin present).

To free the ball joint from the support, it is suggested to tap the support gently with a hammer: at this point, you can extract the driveshaft from the front hub. To extract the driveshaft from the gearbox side, leverage with a medium-sized flat screwdriver (some oil may spill out). To extract the driveshaft, it is also necessary to remove the retaining bolt of the suspension arm from the shock absorber.

Then, position the new driveshaft first on the gearbox side, insert the retaining bolt of the suspension arm into the shock absorber and tighten it appropriately; now insert the other end of the driveshaft into the hub and reposition the ball joint in its support.

Tighten the ball joint retaining nut (reattach the cotter pin) and the driveshaft nut (it is advisable to stake the nut to prevent it from loosening accidentally). Check the gearbox oil level and top up if necessary.

Finally, reassemble the wheel and take a test drive to ensure the noise has disappeared.