Front axle questions

Mazdax605 · Post by **Mazdax605** » Mon Jul 17, 2017 8:09 am

Hello everyone,

On my 89 Starwagon I have needed a new boot on the left front axle since I got it almost 3 years ago. I had asked my importer to repair it, but it never happened. I have the boots, but still haven't got around to doing it. However when I was on the beach a couple of weeks ago I heard the unmistakable sounds of clicking from the left front cv axle. Sadly I think maybe it is on its way out. I contacted Rising Sun about buying a replacement rather than just replacing the boot as I think the joint may be compromised now(clicking sound). Steve at Rising Sun said there are two different axle diameters and that I would have to measure mine to figure out which one to buy. He sent along a picture of where to measure, but it appears you have to remove the axle to do so. I don't want to take my van apart until I have the part, so is there a way according to the VIN perhaps to determine which diameter axle shaft my van has?

tomaboyd · Post by **tomaboyd** » Mon Jul 17, 2017 8:12 am

If there is a way, Steven would know.

I would not worry about talking a front drive shaft out. They are only used during 4wd driving. Just drive accordingly and it will have no affect on anything else.

If funds allow you may consider replacing both fronts. My experience with this type of thing is that when one fails, the other is soon to follow.

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Tue Jul 18, 2017 2:19 pm

There's a post in the FAQ on how to find parts and part numbers http://www.delica.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=17210

...but because I was curious I've gone and looked it up anyway.

https://partsouq.com/en/catalog/genuine ... =289681&q= shows parts 32037L and 32037R are the Left and Right axle kits which includes the outer CV joint (and the inner one, and the axle shaft). The lookup table on the left shows 32037L matches 4 different part numbers, with no indication of which one suits an '89. Partsouq is fairly useless for accuracy, but it has the pictures. (Good thing it's pretty?).

Look up the actual part numbers which suit your vehicle on epcdata.com. I've used my chassis number, you may have more luck with yours (enter frame number here:http://mitsubishi.epc-data.com/).

For mine, (http://mitsubishi.epc-data.com/delica_s ... 32,179549/) it shows there's two possible part numbers for an '89: MB526271 and MB526272. I'd guess that those are the two different sizes. No way of knowing without measuring.