How to Remove the Drive Shaft of a Cruze?
2 Answers
The method for removing the drive shaft of a Cruze is as follows: 1. Remove the drive shaft from the vehicle, starting by detaching the rear end of the main drive shaft. The removal should begin from the rear end of the rear section of the drive shaft, proceeding forward sequentially. First, unscrew the four bolts on the universal joint fork connected to the drive axle, then detach the rear end of the main drive shaft; 2. Next, unscrew the four bolts on the universal joint fork connected to the intermediate drive shaft; detach the front end, allowing the entire main drive shaft to be removed; 3. Loosen the connecting bolts between the intermediate support and the vehicle frame crossbeam, then detach the end with the intermediate support. Finally, loosen the nuts connected to the parking brake drum and remove the entire intermediate drive shaft.
To remove the Cruze driveshaft, I think you should start with safety preparations: make sure the car is parked on a flat surface, use a jack to lift it steadily, and then support the body with stands to prevent it from shaking. Next, removing the rear wheels will make it easier to access the work area. The driveshaft is connected to the transmission and rear differential—locate those mounting bolts and slowly loosen them with a properly sized wrench, avoiding excessive force to prevent thread damage. The shaft itself is quite heavy, so I recommend getting a friend to help support it and gently remove it without hitting surrounding components. For tools, you’ll need a set of universal wrenches, lifting sliders, or hooks. The whole process might take half an hour to an hour, depending on your skill level. If the bearings or seals appear worn, it’s a good idea to check if they need replacement to avoid accumulating issues.
