OEM 2007 Cadillac STS Drive Shaft

2007 Cadillac STS Drive Shaft Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to replace the rear drive shaft in an AWD on 2007 Cadillac STS?

  A: The process of replacing a rear propeller shaft in an awd vehicle begins by supporting the vehicle while it is raised above the ground followed by detachment of the exhaust system. A proper jack should suspend the propeller shaft near the support bearing before removing underbody heat shield retaining bolts followed by the support bearing retaining bolts. You should mark the propeller shaft CV Joint transfer case flange connection before separating the bolts attaching both components. Attach the propeller shaft coupler to the shaft and separate only the coupler-to-differential flange bolts along with nuts and washers. A flat-bladed tool applied to the transfer case flange notch will enable you to move the propeller shaft rearward and free the CV Joint from the transfer case flange. You should hold the propeller shaft before lowering the support device while moving the shaft forward until the coupler separates from the differential flange before removing the propeller shaft from the vehicle. Check the coupler's condition for splitting and deep cracking then examine the CV Joint for grease leakage and damage or binding behavior while inspecting both bushings of the mounting bolt. You must replace the propeller shaft whenever issues emerge from the inspection. Clean the differential flange centering pin and the propeller shaft centering bushing using a clean shop cloth before inspecting all propeller shaft-to-flange nuts and bolts for damage or wear then replacing faulty ones. Install all propeller shaft flange bolts with the direction of the flange by following the arrows marked on the coupler. Reinstall the rear propeller shaft coupler onto the differential flange after applying gm p/n 1051344 (Canadian P/N 993037) lubrication on the rear propeller shaft centering bushing. Before coupling the assembly to the transfer case flange you should push the propeller shaft in reverse position. First clean the reused propeller shaft nuts and bolts with denatured alcohol before applying threadlocker gm p/n 12345493 (Canadian P/N 10953488) to the propeller shaft to flange bolts. Wait for ten minutes of curing time before installation. After installing coupler-to-differential flange washers as well as bolts you can secure the coupler-to-differential flange nuts by tightening the bolts to 85 n.m with a torque of 63 lb ft. Perform the cleaning process again for the CV Joint to transfer case flange bolts before applying threadlocker and tightening them with a sequence (1-6) at 40 n.m (29 lb ft). The vehicle underbody will receive the installed center support bearing through which the support device will raise prior to securing the bearing using bolts torqued to 50 n.m (37 lb ft). Fasten both heat shield bolts to the underbody at 8 n.m (71 lb in), then take away the support device from the propeller shaft, replace the exhaust system and put the vehicle back down.