Cardone 66-2051 CV Axle Assembly - Front Left

Cardone CV Axle Assembly for Contour, Mystique, Cougar

Cardone CV Axle Assembly 66-2051 is a new front left driveline replacement for select Ford and Mercury applications. It is built for 1995-2000 Ford Contour, 1995-2000 Mercury Mystique, and 1999-2002 Mercury Cougar models with splined input and output connections.

Key Features

• Fits 1995-2000 Ford Contour, front left
• Fits 1995-2000 Mercury Mystique, front left
• Fits 1999-2002 Mercury Cougar, front left
• ABS ring included with 44 teeth
• Self-lock axle nut style with spindle nut included
• Compressed length: 26.0625 in.
• Input shaft: 35 splines; output shaft: 27 splines
• Neoprene boot design with added bellows where needed to reduce stress and ozone cracking
• High-temperature, high-torque grease for driveline durability
• Boot clamps are pneumatically crimped for a tight seal

Product Details

Cardone 66-2051 is engineered from the company’s CV axle testing and remanufacturing experience to address common failure points found in original drive axles. The shaft is individually verified for straightness to help deliver smooth operation and reduce vibration at speed. This CV axle assembly is a direct-fit driveline service part for Ford Contour, Mercury Mystique, and Mercury Cougar front left applications, and it cross-references Ford F5RZ3V427AARM and F8RZ3B437BB for the same application.

The Cardone CV Axle Assembly line focuses on OE-style performance with attention to boot design, seal surfaces, and shaft runout. For this part number 66-2051, the included ABS ring and self-lock spindle nut support a cleaner replacement on vehicles that use the specified sensor ring setup.

Common Problems This Part Can Address

• Clicking or snapping noise during hard turns and acceleration
• Grease on the chassis or suspension from a torn outer boot
• Front-end vibration caused by axle runout or shaft imbalance
• ABS warning light after axle replacement when the sensor ring is damaged or incorrect
• Grinding or thumping from a worn CV joint

Installation Notes and Tips

• Fits 1995-2000 Ford Contour, front left; 1995-2000 Mercury Mystique, front left; and 1999-2002 Mercury Cougar, front left.
• Do not let the axle hang unsupported during service; this can damage the inner joint.
• Use a torque wrench on the retaining nut and tighten to the vehicle manufacturer’s specification.
• Do not reuse a prevailing-torque lock nut; install the new spindle nut supplied with the axle.
• Replace transaxle seals when servicing CV drive axles to help prevent leaks.

Quality Assurance

Cardone verifies CV axle shafts for straightness and runout control to support vibration-free operation. The design also addresses common boot-failure causes with reinforced neoprene boot construction and secure crimped clamps for dependable sealing.