6.6. Front wheel drives: a - the drive of the right front wheel; b – left front wheel drive; 1 - dynamic damper; 2 - external hinges; 3 - front wheel drive shafts; 4 - internal hinges
Front wheel drives consist of outer 2 (pic. 6.6) and internal 4 constant velocity joints (SHRUS), connected by shafts 3. The external hinge allows only angular movements of the connected shafts. The internal hinge, in addition to the angular ones, also provides axial displacement of the shafts when the front wheels are turned and the suspension is working. All joints of both drives - type «tripod», and the outer hinges of both drives are identical in design, while the inner ones are different. Therefore, the right and left drives are not interchangeable. To reduce vibration in the transmission, a dynamic damper 1 is installed with an interference fit on the shaft of the right drive.
On a Renault Logan car, external hinges of the GE 86 type and internal GL 69 types are used (left) and RC 462 (right).
6.7. External constant velocity joint GE 86: 1 – collars of fastening of a cover; 2 - three-stud hub; 3 - roller; 4 – a gear disk of the gauge ABS (with ABS); 5 - hinge body; 6 - spring; 7 - adjusting spacer; 8 - pusher; 9 - drive shaft; 10 - hinge cover
The outer hinge 2 consists of a body 5 (pic. 6.7) and three rollers 3 put on the trunnions of the three-spike hub 2. The latter is made in one piece with the hinge body. The rollers enter the grooves of the hinge cage, made in one piece with the drive shaft 9. This design allows the hinge to rotate to the desired angle. The splined shank of the outer hinge housing is fixed in the front wheel hub with a nut. The sealing of the hinge is provided by a cover 10 fixed with clamps 1 on the hinge body and on the drive shaft.
For the repair of the external hinge, only its cover and cover fastening clamps are supplied as spare parts. In case of failure, the hinge must be replaced as an assembly with the drive shaft, since the hinge cage forms a non-separable unit with the shaft.
6.8. Right inner CV joint RC 462: 1 - retaining ring; 2 - hinge body; 3 - a roller of a three-spike hub; 4 – collars of fastening of a cover; 5 - hinge cover; 6 - spring
The right inner hinge consists of a body 2 (pic. 6.8) and three rollers 3 on needle bearings, put on the trunnions of a three-spike hub. Grooves for rollers are made in the hinge body. The three-spike hub is fixed on the drive shaft with a retaining ring 1, the rollers allow the hub to move in the grooves of the hinge body in the axial direction, so that the drive can lengthen or shorten to compensate for the mutual movements of the suspension and the power unit. The tip of the body of the internal hinge with internal splines is put on the splined shank of the right side gear. From axial movement on the pinion shank during suspension operation, the hinge body is fixed by an expanding spring 6 installed inside the hinge. The sealing of the hinge is provided by a cover 5, fixed with clamps 4 on the hinge body and on the drive shaft. In the gearbox housing, the tip of the hinge housing is sealed with a toroidal rubber ring and a self-compressing stuffing box.
To repair the right inner hinge, two repair kits are supplied as spare parts: a large one, which includes all parts of the hinge, and a small one, similar to the outer hinge repair kit.
6.9. Left inner CV joint GL 69: 1 - mud deflector; 2 - stuffing box; 3 - bearing; 4 – case holder; 5 - hinge cover; 6 - a roller of a three-spike hub; 7 - retaining ring; 8 - drive shaft
The left inner hinge consists of three rollers 6 (pic. 6.9) on needle bearings put on the trunnions of a three-spike hub. The function of the hinge housing is performed by the left semi-axial gear of the gearbox of complex shape. Its internal grooves for the rollers are made similar to the grooves of the body 2 (see fig. 6.8) right inner hinge. Three-spike hub fixed on shaft 8 (see fig. 6.9) 7. The rollers allow the hub to move in the grooves of the side gear in the axial direction, so that the drive can lengthen or shorten to compensate for the mutual movements of the suspension and the power unit. The sealing of the hinge is provided by a cover 5, which is fixedly fixed by means of a holder 4 on the gearbox housing. The drive shaft rotating inside the case in the bearing 3 is sealed with an oil seal 2 installed under the case in a removable unit common with the bearing.
To repair the left internal joint, two repair kits are supplied as spare parts: a large one, which includes all parts of the joint, except for the side gear, and a small one, including the joint cover and the bearing assembly with the oil seal.
To lubricate the outer hinges and the right inner hinge, use a special grease with molybdenum disulfide MOBIL CVJ 825 BLACK STAR (supplied with a hinge repair kit, domestic analogue - SHRUS-4). Lubricate the inboard joint shank splines with MOLYKOTE BR2 grease and the left inboard joint with transmission gear oil.
Note. The drive hinges are very durable, their design life is almost equal to the life of the car. However, in operation they are changed or repaired quite often due to the fact that they do not pay attention to the condition of the protective covers. Such work is quite expensive and laborious. In order to save a lot of money, regularly check the condition of the protective covers of the hinges and immediately replace them at the slightest damage. If water or dust gets into the hinge through a damaged cover, it will fail after several hundred kilometers. The sealed hinge wears out extremely slowly.