13. Power shafts

Power is transmitted from the conducted transmission shaft to driving wheels of the car by power shafts through internal universal hinges of plunger type and external hinges of equal angular speeds like Rzeppa.
The intermediate shaft with the own basic bearing is established between an exit of the transmission and the right power shafts - the scheme which carries out balancing of corners of power shafts at any provision of a suspension bracket and reduces a flexure of a power shaft, increasing stability of the direction at strong accelerations.

Pay attention that internal hinges pass in this section under the name "universal hinges" to distinguish them from external hinges of equal angular speeds though technically and those, and other hinges represent hinges of equal angular speeds. Hinges of equal angular speeds (the CV hinges) provide smooth transfer of the movement to driving wheels at any corners of a suspension bracket and steering system. The movement is transferred by means of six radially fixed steel spheres which move in flutes between two halves of hinges. Outside hinges are protected by the rubber casings filled by lubricant which provides continuous greasing of hinges. At emergence of wear the hinge can be removed from a power shaft, however has to be replaced together with a nave, bearings and an external power shaft as uniform assembly. Usually the CV hinges do not demand additional lubricant; greasing of hinges can be required at their replacement or at the damage of protection covers leading to lubricant pollution. The procedure of check of a condition of protection covers of power shafts is described in the Head Routine maintenance.
Internal universal hinges are hinges of plunger and cup type. The movement is transmitted through the hinge by means of three rollers, the tripod installed on a power shaft; rollers are radially fixed, however can freely slide in flutes. Such scheme allows longitudinal movement of a power shaft which in turn provides the effective length of a power shaft according to movements of a suspension bracket needlessly use of shlitsevy hinges on the most power shaft. Also, as well as the CV hinges, universal hinges are subject to constant greasing by the lubricant concluded in protection covers which are subject to filling only in case of replacement of hinges or damage of a casing.

For check of wear of a power shaft carry out a road inspection of the car; circling at a slow speed with full turn of a steering wheel (in turn carrying out an inspection at turn of wheels to the right and to the left) listen to emergence metal of the clicking sounds going from area behind forward wheels. The assistant sitting on passenger sitting has to listen to the sounds going from hinges from its party of the car. Emergence of such sounds indicates wear of external hinges of equal angular speeds. In case of the vibration transferred on a body of the car, proportional speed of the movement at acceleration and braking of engines it is necessary to assume wear of internal universal hinges.

For survey of hinges regarding wear detection, remove and sort power shafts (The sections Removal, survey and installation to the place of power shafts and Replacement of rubber casings of power shafts). The CV hinges can be replaced, however keep in mind that external CV hinges have to be replaced complete with an external power shaft. Consult about existence of spare components for power shafts in representative office of SAAB.