Features of the drive shaft design (VAZ-2108)

The drive of each wheel consists of two constant velocity joints and a shaft 10 (figure 76), which is solid for the left wheel drive and tubular for the right one.

Figure 76. Right front wheel drive

The outer joint consists of a housing 1, a separator 6, an inner race 3 and six balls. Grooves for accommodating the balls are made in the joint housing and the race. The grooves in the longitudinal plane are made along the radius, which provides an angle of rotation of the outer joint of up to 42°. The splined tip of the joint housing is installed in the wheel hub and secured in it with a nut. Race 3 is installed on the splines of shaft 10 between thrust ring 7 and locking ring 2.

The inner hinge differs from the outer one in that the body and cage tracks are straight rather than radial, which allows the hinge parts to move in the longitudinal direction. This is necessary to compensate for the movements caused by vibrations of the front suspension and power unit.

Possible malfunctions, their causes and methods of elimination are given in Table 9.