Nissan Pathfinder: Front Axle - Front Drive Shaft

Nissan Pathfinder (R53) 2022-2025 Service Manual / Transmission & Driveline :: Front Axle / Unit Disassembly and Assembly / Front Drive Shaft

Disassembly and Assembly (LH)

1.	Circlip	2.	Dust shield	3.	Slide joint housing
4.	Snap ring	5.	Spider assembly	6.	Stopper ring
7.	Boot band	8.	Boot	9.	Shaft
10.	Damper band	11.	Damper	12.	Boot band
13.	Boot	14.	Circlip	15.	Joint sub-assembly
	Front

DISASSEMBLY

Transaxle Side

Secure front drive shaft in a vise.

CAUTION:

When securing shaft in a vise, always use copper or aluminum plates between vise and shaft.

Remove boot bands and slide the boot back.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse boot band.

Remove circlip and dust shield from slide joint housing.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse circlip.

Put matching marks on slide joint housing and shaft before separating joint assembly.

Remove stopper ring with a suitable tool, then pull out slide joint housing.

Put matching mark (A) on spider assembly and shaft.

Remove snap ring (1) using a suitable tool, then remove spider assembly from shaft.

Remove boot from shaft.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse boot.

Clean the old grease off of the slide joint assembly.

Wheel Side

Secure the front drive shaft in a vise.

CAUTION:

When securing shaft in a vise, always use copper or aluminum plates between vise and shaft.

Remove boot bands and slide the boot back.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse boot bands.

Screw a suitable tool (A) 30 mm (1.18 in) or more into threaded part of joint sub-assembly. Pull joint sub-assembly out of shaft.

CAUTION:

Align suitable tool and drive shaft then remove joint sub-assembly by pulling directly.

If joint sub-assembly cannot be removed after five or more unsuccessful attempts, replace the entire drive shaft assembly.

Remove boot from shaft.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse boot.

Remove circlip from shaft.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse circlip.

While rotating ball cage, clean the old grease off of the joint sub-assembly.

Damper

Remove damper bands, then remove damper from shaft.

CAUTION:
Do not reuse damper bands.

INSPECTION AFTER DISASSEMBLY

Shaft

Replace shaft if there is bending, cracking, or other damage.

Joint Sub-Assembly

Make sure there is no rough rotation or unusual axial looseness.
Make sure there is no foreign material inside joint sub-assembly.
Check joint sub-assembly for compression scars, cracks or fractures.

CAUTION:
If there are any irregular conditions of joint sub-assembly components, replace the entire joint sub-assembly.

Slide Joint Housing

Make sure there are no compression scars, cracks or fractures or unusual wear of ball rolling surface.
Make sure there is no damage to shaft screws.
Make sure there is no deformation of boot installation parts.

Ball Cage

Make sure there are no compression scars, cracks, fractures of sliding surface.

Steel Ball

Make sure there are no compression scars, cracks, fractures or unusual wear.

Inner Race

Check ball sliding surface for compression scars, cracks or fractures.
Make sure there is no damage to serrated part.

CAUTION:
If there are any irregular conditions in the component, replace with a new set of joint sub-assembly, ball cage, steel ball and inner race.

Damper

Check damper for cracks or wear. Install damper with new damper bands.

ASSEMBLY

Transaxle Side

Install new boot and new small boot band on shaft.

CAUTION:

Cover drive shaft serration with tape (A) to prevent damage to boot during installation.

Do not reuse boot and boot band.

Remove protective tape wound around serrated part of shaft.

Install spider assembly securely, making sure the matching marks which were made during disassembly are properly aligned.

Install new snap ring (1) using a suitable tool.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse snap ring.

Pack drive shaft with specified amount of new grease (Genuine NISSAN Grease or equivalent).

Grease quantity

: Refer to Drive Shaft .

Install new stopper ring to housing of slide joint assembly.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse stopper ring.

After installation, pull shaft to check engagement between slide joint assembly and stopper ring.

Install boot securely into grooves (indicated by * marks) as shown.

CAUTION:

If there is grease on boot mounting surfaces (indicated by * marks) of shaft and housing, boot may come off. Clean all grease from surfaces.

Make sure boot installation length (L) is the length specified below. Insert a suitable tool into the large end of boot. Bleed air from boot to prevent boot deformation.

Boot installation length (L)

: Refer to Drive Shaft.

CAUTION:

Boot may break if boot installation length is less than standard value.

Be careful that suitable tool does not contact inside surface of boot.

Secure large and small ends of boot with new boot bands as shown.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse boot bands.

Install new dust shield to slide joint housing.

After installing housing and shaft, make sure boot position is correct. If boot position is not correct, remove old boot bands then reposition the boot and secure with new boot bands.

Wheel Side

Insert the amount of grease (Genuine NISSAN Grease or equivalent) into joint sub-assembly (1) serration hole until grease begins to ooze from ball groove and serration hole. After inserting grease, use a shop cloth to wipe off old grease that has oozed out.

Cover serrated part of shaft with tape (A). Install new boot band and boot to shaft. Be careful not to damage boot.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse boot band and boot.

Remove protective tape wound around serrated part of shaft.

Attach new circlip to shaft. The circlip must fit securely into shaft groove. Attach nut to joint sub-assembly. Use a suitable tool to press-fit.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse circlip.

Insert the amount of new grease (Genuine NISSAN Grease or equivalent) listed below into housing from large end of boot.

Grease quantity

: Refer to Drive Shaft.

Install boot securely into grooves (indicated by * marks) as shown.

CAUTION:

If there is grease on boot mounting surfaces (indicated by * marks) of shaft and housing, boot may come off. Remove all grease from surfaces.

Make sure boot installation length (L) is the specified length indicated below. Insert a suitable tool into the large end of boot. Bleed air from boot to prevent boot deformation.

Boot installation length (L)

: Refer to Drive Shaft.

CAUTION:

Boot may break if boot installation length is less than standard value.

Be careful that suitable tool does not contact inside surface of boot.

Install new large and small boot bands securely using Tool.

Tool number

: KV40107300 (NI-51751)

CAUTION:

Do not reuse boot bands.

Secure boot band so that dimension (M) meets specification as shown.

Dimension (M) : Refer to Boot Bands.

After installing housing and shaft, rotate boot to check whether or not the actual position is correct. If boot position is not correct, remove old boot bands, then reposition the boot and secure with new boot bands.

Damper

Use new damper bands for installation.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse damper bands.

Install damper from stationary-joint side while holding it securely.

Dimension (A)	: Refer to Dynamic Damper.
Dimension (B)	: Refer to Dynamic Damper.

Disassembly and Assembly (RH)

1.	Housing	2.	Damper bands	3.	Dynamic damper
4.	Shaft	5.	Joint sub-assembly	6.	Circular clip
7.	Boot bands	8.	Boot	9.	Stopper ring
10.	Spider assembly	11.	Snap ring	12.	Support bearing
13.	Dust shield		Wheel side
	Fill NISSAN Genuine grease or equivalent.

DISASSEMBLY

Transaxle Side

Press shaft in a vise.

CAUTION:

When securing shaft in a vise, always use copper or aluminum plates between vise and shaft.

Remove circlip and dust shield from slide joint housing.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse circlip.

Remove boot bands and slide the boots back.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse boot band.

Put matching marks on slide joint housing and shaft before separating slide joint housing.

Remove stopper ring using a suitable tool, then pull out slide joint housing.

Put matching mark (A) on spider assembly and shaft.

Remove snap ring (1) using a suitable tool, then remove spider assembly from shaft.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse snap ring.

Remove boot from shaft.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse boot.

Clean old grease off of the slide joint housing.

Wheel Side

Secure the front drive shaft in a vise.

CAUTION:

When securing shaft in a vise, always use copper or aluminum plates between vise and shaft.

Remove boot bands and slide the boot back.

Screw a suitable tool (A) 30 mm (1.18 in) or more into threaded part of joint sub-assembly. Pull joint sub-assembly out of shaft.

CAUTION:

Remove boot from shaft.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse snap ring.

Remove circlip from shaft.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse circlip.

While rotating ball cage, clean the old grease off of the joint sub-assembly.

Support Bearing

Remove dust shield from slide joint assembly using a suitable tool.

Remove snap ring using a suitable tool.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse snap ring.

Press support bearing assembly off slide joint assembly using a suitable tool.

Damper (if equipped)

Remove damper bands, then remove damper from shaft.

CAUTION:
Do not reuse damper bands.

INSPECTION AFTER DISASSEMBLY

Shaft

Replace shaft if there is any bending, cracking, or other damage.

Joint Sub-assembly

Make sure there is no rough rotation or unusual axial looseness.
Make sure there is no foreign material inside joint sub-assembly.
Check joint sub-assembly for compression scars, cracks or fractures.

CAUTION:
If there are any irregular conditions of joint sub-assembly components, replace the entire joint sub-assembly.

Sliding Joint Housing and Spider Assembly

If roller surface of spider assembly has scratches or wear, replace housing and spider assembly.

NOTE:
Housing and spider assembly are components which are used as a set.

Support Bearing

Make sure wheel bearing rolls freely and is free from noise, cracks, pitting or wear.

Damper (if equipped)

Check damper for cracks or wear. Install damper with new damper bands.

ASSEMBLY

Transaxle Side

Cover serrated part of shaft with tape (A). Install new boot and boot band onto shaft. Be careful not to damage boot.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse boot and boot band.

Remove protective tape wound around serrated part of shaft.

Install spider assembly securely, making sure the matching marks which were made during disassembly are properly aligned.

Install new snap ring (1) using a suitable tool.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse snap ring.

Pack drive shaft with specified amount of grease (Genuine NISSAN Grease or equivalent).

Grease quantity

: Refer to Drive Shaft.

Install new stopper ring to slide joint assembly.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse stopper ring.

After installation, pull shaft to check engagement between slide joint assembly and stopper ring.

Install boot securely into grooves (indicated by * marks) as shown.

CAUTION:

If there is grease on boot mounting surfaces (indicated by * marks) of shaft and housing, boot may come off. Remove all grease from surfaces.

Make sure boot installation length (L) is the length indicated below. Insert a suitable tool into the large end of boot. Bleed air from boot to prevent boot deformation.

Boot installation length (L)

: Refer to Drive Shaft.

CAUTION:

Boot may break if boot installation length is less than standard value.

Be careful that suitable tool does not contact inside surface of boot.

Secure big and small ends of boot with new boot bands as shown.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse boot bands.

Install new dust shield to slide joint housing.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse dust shield.

After installing housing and shaft, rotate boot to check whether or not the actual position is correct. If boot position is not correct, remove old boot bands then reposition the boot and secure with new boot bands.

Wheel Side

Cover serrated part of shaft with tape (A). Install new boot and boot band onto shaft. Be careful not to damage boot.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse boot and boot band.

Remove protective tape wound around serrated part of shaft.

Attach new circlip to shaft. The circlip must fit securely into shaft groove. Attach nut to joint sub-assembly. Use a suitable tool to press-fit

CAUTION:

Do not reuse circlip.

Insert the amount of new grease (Genuine NISSAN Grease or equivalent) listed below into housing from large end of boot.

Grease quantity

: Refer to Drive Shaft.

Install boot securely into grooves (indicated by * marks) as shown.

CAUTION:

If there is grease on boot mounting surfaces (indicated by * marks) of shaft and housing, boot may come off. Remove all grease from surfaces.

Make sure boot installation length (L) is the specified length. Insert a suitable tool into the large end of boot. Bleed air from boot to prevent boot deformation.

Boot installation length (L)

: Refer to Drive Shaft.

CAUTION:

Boot may break if boot installation length is less than standard value.

Be careful that suitable tool does not contact inside surface of boot.

Install new large and small boot bands securely using Tool.