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Autopapyrus · Citroën C4 II
https://autopapyrus.com/guides/citroen/c4/driveshaft-replacement/
Compiled automatically from service literature and owner experience. Specs are for the typical configuration — check them against your exact car before you start.

Citroën C4 II: Driveshaft Replacement

On the Citroën C4 II (PSA PF2 platform) with the EP6 engine, the driveshafts have an inner and an outer constant-velocity (CV) joint. Replacement is needed when the boots are worn or torn, when you hear clicking or crunching in turns, feel vibration under acceleration, or notice play in the CV joints. The procedure is the same for the left and right shafts, but the left one is longer.

Difficulty: Medium Time: 2-3 hours (per shaft) Steps: 14 Tools: floor jack and jack stands, 36 mm socket (axle/hub nut), 18 mm socket (ball joint bolts), 13 mm and 17 mm wrenches, ball joint separator, pry bar, torque wrench, transmission fluid drain pan (2-3 L (2.1-3.2 qt)), shop rags

Part

  • 🔩 Driveshaft assembly, left/right (aftermarket equivalents: Linx CI-1045 left, CI-1044 right; Fenox, GKN, NTN; OE PSA costs more). Driveshaft seals (left and right) — recommended to replace at the same time. Inner and outer CV joint boots, CV joint grease, circlips, new axle nut (single-use)
There's a full repair manual for this car Every system, wiring diagrams and torque specs — not just this job. Haynes and 4 more. See manuals →

Step by step

14 steps
  1. Raise the front of the vehicle, support it on jack stands, and remove the front wheel on the side you are working on.
  2. Loosen the axle nut with the 36 mm socket (do not remove it completely — the vehicle must be on the ground to break it loose).
  3. Drain the transmission fluid into a pan (remove the drain plug at the bottom of the transmission) so it does not spill when the shaft is pulled out.
  4. Remove the bolt securing the ball joint to the steering knuckle (18 mm socket), or use a ball joint separator, and swing the control arm downward.
  5. Remove the sway bar end link bolt (if it blocks access) and, if necessary, disconnect the tie rod end from the steering knuckle.
  6. Fully remove the axle nut and pull the outer CV joint out of the hub (this may require light tapping with a hammer through a wooden spacer, or pushing it out with a puller).
  7. Pull the inner CV joint out of the transmission — carefully pry the shaft with a pry bar between the transmission and the inner joint (one sharp pull), and draw the shaft out together with the circlip.
  8. Inspect the seat in the transmission and replace the driveshaft seal (drive out the old one and press in the new one with light taps using a drift of the suitable diameter).
  9. Install the new driveshaft — first insert the inner CV joint into the transmission until the circlip clicks into place (check that it is locked by pulling on it), then insert the outer CV joint into the hub.
  10. Tighten the new axle nut to 245-280 N·m (181-207 lb-ft). Confirm the exact value in the manufacturer's specifications for your trim level — this is the typical range for the PSA PF2.
  11. Reinstall the ball joint, sway bar end link and tie rod end, and tighten the bolts to the recommended torque (ball joint 50-60 N·m (37-44 lb-ft), sway bar end link 40-50 N·m (30-37 lb-ft)).
  12. Refill the transmission with fluid through the fill hole up to the level (usually 1.9-2.0 L (2.0-2.1 qt) for the MA5 manual transmission) and check for leaks.
  13. Install the wheel, lower the vehicle, and tighten the wheel bolts in a crisscross pattern to 90 N·m (66 lb-ft).
  14. Take the car for a test drive — check for vibration, clicking, and play, and make sure the CV joints work properly in turns.

Common mistakes and warnings

  • The axle nut is single-use and must not be reused. When pulling the shaft out of the transmission, work carefully — a sharp impact can damage the differential. If you do not have a torque wrench that reaches 280 N·m (207 lb-ft), take the car to a repair shop for the final tightening of the axle nut. Three types of shafts are found on the C4 II (PSA, NTN serviceable, GKN non-serviceable) — make sure the shaft is compatible before buying. The left and right shafts differ in length — do not mix them up when ordering.