Fig. 6.6. Front wheel drives: A - left front wheel drive; B - right front wheel drive; 1 - slotted tip; 2.18 - external hinges; 3, 5, 7, I, 13,16 - clamps; 4,12,17 - covers; 6.14 - front wheel drive shafts; 8 - case holder; 9 - left inner hinge; 10 - right inner hinge; 15 - dynamic damper; 19 - threaded tip
The Renault/Dacia Sandero uses GE 86 type outer joints and GL 69 (left) and RC 462 (right) type inner joints.
The outer hinge consists of a housing 5 (Fig. 6.7) and three rollers 3 mounted on the journals of a three-spike hub 2. The latter is made in one piece with the hinge housing. 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 at the required angle. The splined tail of the outer hinge housing is secured in the front wheel hub with a nut. The hinge is sealed by a cover 10 secured with clamps 1 on the hinge housing and on the drive shaft.
Fig. 6.7. External constant velocity joint: 1 - cover fastening clamps; 2 - three-spike hub; 3 - roller; 4 - ABS sensor toothed disk (with ABS); 5 - hinge housing; 6 - spring; 7 - adjusting spacer; 8 - pusher; 9 - drive shaft; 10 - hinge cover
To repair the outer joint, only its cover and cover fastening clamps are supplied as spare parts. In case of failure, the joint must be replaced together with the drive shaft, since the joint cage forms a non-separable unit with the shaft.
The right inner hinge consists of a housing 2 (Fig. 6.8) and three rollers 3 on needle bearings mounted on the journals of a three-spike hub. The housing of the hinge has grooves for the rollers. 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 housing of the hinge in the axial direction, due to which the drive can be lengthened or shortened to compensate for the mutual movements of the suspension and the power unit. The tip of the housing of the inner hinge with internal splines is mounted on the splined tailpiece of the right axle gear. From axial movement on the tailpiece of the gear during suspension operation, the housing of the hinge is fixed with an expansion spring installed inside the hinge. The sealing of the hinge is provided by a cover 5, secured with clamps 4 on the housing of the hinge 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-tightening oil seal.
Fig. 6.8. Right inner constant velocity joint: 1 - retaining ring; 2 - ball joint body; 3 - three-spike hub roller; 4 - cover fastening clamps; 5 - hinge cover
To repair the right inner joint, two repair kits are supplied in the spare parts section: a large one, which includes all the joint parts, and a small one, similar to the repair kit for the outer joint.
The left inner joint consists of three rollers 6 (Fig. 6.9) on needle bearings mounted on the journals of a three-pin hub. The left half-axle gear of the gearbox of complex shape performs the function of the joint housing. Its internal grooves for the rollers are made similar to the grooves of the housing 2 (see fig. 6.8) right inner joint. The three-pin hub is fixed on shaft 8 (see fig. 6.9) drive by means of a retaining ring 7. The rollers allow the hub to move in the grooves of the axle gear in the axial direction, due to which the drive can be lengthened or shortened to compensate for the mutual movements of the suspension and the power unit. The joint is sealed by means of a cover 5, fixedly secured with the help of a holder 4 on the gearbox housing. The drive shaft, rotating inside the cover in bearing 3, is sealed by means of a seal 2, installed under the cover in a removable unit, common with the bearing.
Fig. 6.9. Left inner constant velocity joint: 1 - mud deflector; 2 - oil seal; 3 - bearing; 4 - case holder; 5 - hinge cover; 6 - three-spike hub roller; 7 - retaining ring; 8 - drive shaft
To repair the left inner joint, two repair kits are supplied in the spare parts section: a large one, which includes all the joint parts except the axle gear, and a small one, which includes the joint cover and the bearing assembly with the seal.
For lubrication of outer joints and the right inner joint, use a special lubricant with molybdenum disulfide MOBIL CVJ 825 BLACK STAR (comes with a hinge repair kit, domestic analogue - SHRUS-4). The splines of the inner joint tailpiece are lubricated with MOLYKOTE BR2 grease, and the left inner joint is lubricated with transmission oil for the gearbox.
Text published on the website [renaultbook]
Useful advice. Drive joints are very durable, their estimated service life is almost equal to the service life of the car. However, they are often replaced or repaired during operation due to the fact that no attention is paid to the condition of the protective covers. Such work is quite expensive and labor-intensive. In order to seriously save money, regularly check the condition of the protective covers of the joints and immediately replace them at the slightest damage. If water or dust gets into the joint through a damaged cover, it will fail after several hundred kilometers. A sealed joint wears out extremely slowly.
Possible faults of the front wheel drive, their causes and solutions
| Cause of malfunction | Method of elimination |
| Vibration when the car is moving | |
| Severe wear of the outer joint of the wheel drive | Replace the drive shaft assembly with the outer joint |
| Wheel drive shaft deformation | Same |
| Wear of the rollers of the inner joint of the wheel drive | Replace the inner joint |
| Loosening the hub mounting nut | Tighten or replace the nut |
| Car pulls to the side | |
| Worn or damaged inner joint race | Replace the drive shaft assembly with the outer joint |
| Outer joint wear or damage | Same |
| Damage or deformation of the wheel drive shaft | Replace the shaft |
| Loosening the hub mounting nut | Tighten or replace the nut |
| Grease leaking from joints | |
| Wear or tear of the protective cover of the outer or inner hinges | Inspect the hinge, replace it if there is any play. Replace the damaged cover and grease |
| Insufficient tightening of clamps | Replace and tighten the clamps securely |
| Damage to the left inner joint shaft seal | Replace the left inner joint bearing assembly with the seal |
| Noise, knocking from the front wheel when the car is moving | |
| Damage or deformation of the wheel drive shaft | Replace the drive shaft assembly with the outer joint |
| Front wheel drive shaft runout | Same |
| Wear of the rollers of the inner joint of the wheel drive | Replace the inner joint |
| Loosening the hub mounting nut | Tighten or replace the nut |
| Knocking sound when turning the car | |
| Severe wear of the outer joint of the wheel drive | Replace the drive shaft assembly with the outer joint |