DRIVELINE/AXLES

Propeller Shaft - Charger

DESCRIPTION
REAR

NOTE: The drive shaft components are not serviceable, the drive shaft must be
replaced as an assembly.

Rear wheel drive utilizes a "two-piece" rear drive shaft design to transmit torque to the rear axle assembly. This
two-piece design consists of:

Front and rear shaft segments

Center support bearing/bracket assembly
Plunging Cross Grove (CG) Constant Velocity (CV) joint aft of the center bearing
Plunging CG CV joint at the transmission flange
Fixed Rzeppa CV joint at the rear axle flange

1 - FRONT PLUNGING CG CV JOINT (TRANSMISSION FLANGE)

2 - FRONT SHAFT SEGMENT
3 - CENTER SUPPORT BEARING/BRACKET ASSEMBLY
4 - PLUNGING CG CV JOINT
5 - REAR SHAFT SEGMENT
6 - FIXED RZEPPA CV JOINT (AXLE FLANGE)

FRONT

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 1 - FRONT PROPELLER SHAFT ASSEMBLY

WARNING: Due to propeller shaft imbalance concerns, front propeller shaft service is
limited to rubber coupler and entire shaft replacement. The single-cardan
universal joints are not serviceable.

AWD models utilize a "two-piece" front propeller shaft design to transmit torque to the front axle assembly.
This two-piece design consists of:

Front and rear shaft segments

Single - Cardan u-joints at end flanges
Rubber boot at front/rear segment interface

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

DESCRIPTION N.m Ft. Lbs. In. Lbs. NEW FASTENER*

Drive Shaft to Transmission Flange
66 49 - X
Bolts
Drive Shaft to Rear Axle Flange
66 49 - X
Bolts
Center Bearing to Body Bolts 28 21 - -
Front Drive Shaft to Axle/Transfer
61 45 - X
Case Flange Bolts/Nuts
*NEW FASTENER: Do not reuse these fasteners. If removed, a new fastener must be installed and
tightened to specifications.
If NEW bolts/nuts are not available clean the old bolts/nuts and apply Mopar® Lock and Seal Adhesive
or equivalent.

REMOVAL
FRONT DRIVE SHAFT

1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to HOISTING, STANDARD PROCEDURE .

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 2. Raise the transmission slightly with a transmission jack (1) to relieve load on the crossmember.

3. Remove the crossmember bolts (1), the transmission mount bolts (2) and remove the crossmember.

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 4. Index mark the drive shaft to transfer case flange and the drive shaft to front axle flange.
5. Remove and discard four front drive shaft to front axle flange bolts (2).
6. Remove and discard four front drive shaft to transfer case flange bolts (2).
7. Remove drive shaft assembly (1).

REAR

CAUTION: Drive shaft removal is a two-person operation. Never allow the drive shaft to
hang from the center bearing, or while only connected to the transmission or
rear axle flanges. An assistant is required. If a drive shaft section is hung
unsupported, damage may occur to the shaft, joint and center bearing from
over-angulation. This may result in driveline vibrations or component failure."

NOTE: During drive shaft removal or installation avoid any contact with the front and
rear joint grease caps. Any damage to the grease cap caused by improper
handling during installation or removal could cause a grease leak and
subsequent damage to the CV joint. Do not pull on the shaft in order to remove
the front joint from the transmission/transfer case flange, this could dent or
dislodge the boot and cause a grease leak and subsequent joint failure.

NOTE: The use of soft blunt tools is recommended for removal of the joints from
companion flanges. Use of sharp pry tools, such as a screwdriver, will damage
the joint housing and could result in driveline imbalance.

1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to HOISTING, STANDARD PROCEDURE .

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 2. Apply alignment index marks (1) on the transmission and axle flanges.
3. Remove the rear exhaust system. Refer to MUFFLER, EXHAUST, REMOVAL .

4. Remove the heat shield nuts (2) and the heat shield (1).

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 5. Remove the drive shaft to transmission flange (1) bolts and washers (2).

6. Remove the center bearing bracket (1) bolts (2).

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 7. Remove the drive shaft to axle flange bolts (1) and washers (2).
8. With the aid of an assistant, remove the drive shaft assembly.

INSTALLATION
FRONT DRIVE SHAFT

1. Install propeller shaft (1) into position.

NOTE: Drive shaft bolts must be replaced with NEW or cleaned and Mopar®
Lock and Seal Adhesive or equivalent applied.

2. Starting at the transfer case end, align the index marks made during removal and install the drive shaft to
transfer case flange bolts (2) hand tight.
3. Align the index marks at the front axle end of the drive shaft, and install the drive shaft to front axle
flange bolts (2) hand tight.
4. Torque the drive shaft to transfer case and drive shaft to axle flange bolts (2) to the proper torque
specifications. Refer to TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS.

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 5. Install the crossmember, the crossmember bolts (1) and the transmission mount bolts (2) and tighten to
the proper torque specifications. Refer to TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS .

6. Remove the transmission jack (1).

7. Remove the support and lower the vehicle.

REAR

CAUTION: Drive shaft removal is a two-person operation. Never allow the drive shaft to
hang from the center bearing, or while only connected to the transmission or
rear axle flanges. An assistant is required. If a drive shaft section is hung
unsupported, damage may occur to the shaft, joint and center bearing from
over-angulation. This may result in driveline vibrations or component failure."

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 NOTE: During drive shaft removal or installation avoid any contact with the front and
rear joint grease caps. Any damage to the grease cap caused by improper
handling during installation or removal could cause a grease leak and
subsequent damage to the CV joint. Do not pull on the shaft in order to remove
the front joint from the transmission/transfer case flange, this could dent or
dislodge the boot and cause a grease leak and subsequent joint failure.

NOTE: Drive shaft bolts must be replaced with NEW . If NEW bolts are not available
clean the old bolts and apply Mopar® Lock and Seal Adhesive or equivalent.

NOTE: To avoid driveline vibration or damage, it is critical that all components are
reinstalled in their original orientations.

1. With the aid of an assistant, install the drive shaft into position at the axle flange and align the index
marks (1) made upon removal.

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 NOTE: Drive shaft bolts must be replaced with NEW . If NEW bolts are not
available clean the old bolts and apply Mopar® Lock and Seal Adhesive
or equivalent.

2. Install the drive shaft to axle flange washers (2) and NEW bolts (1) by hand. Do not tighten at this time.

NOTE: Drive shaft bolts must be replaced with NEW . If NEW bolts are not
available clean the old bolts and apply Mopar® Lock and Seal Adhesive
or equivalent.

3. Install drive shaft into position at the transmission flange. Align index marks made upon removal. Install
the drive shaft to transmission flange washers (2) and NEW drive shaft bolts (1) by hand. Do not tighten

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 at this time.

4. Position the center bearing (1) in place and loosely install the center bearing to body bolts (2) by hand. Do
not tighten at this time.

5. Tighten the drive shaft to transmission flange bolts (1) in a star pattern to 66 Nm (49 ft.-lbs.).

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 6. Tighten the drive shaft to rear axle flange bolts (1) in a star pattern to 66 Nm (49 ft.-lbs.).

NOTE: Note: It is necessary to compress the rear suspension to ride height

before securing center bearing to body. Failure to compress the rear
suspension may result in objectionable noise and premature bearing wear.

7. If a drive-on hoist is not used, compress the rear suspension (2) using screw-style under-hoist jack stands
(1).

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 8. Tighten the center bearing to body bolts (2) to the proper torque specifications. Refer to TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS.

9. Install the heat shield (1) and the heat shield nuts (2).
10. Install the rear exhaust system. Refer to MUFFLER, EXHAUST, INSTALLATION .

Article GUID: A00910349

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