Differential Assembly: Removal
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Pontiac Aztek and 2003 Buick Rendezvous. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Set the parking brake. Raise and support the vehicle. Remove the right rear tire/wheel assembly. Place a drain pan beneath the differential. Remove the differential drain plug. See Figure . Drain the rear differential gear oil. Disconnect the electrical connector from the clutch pump check valve. See Figure . Remove the right rear axle shaft. See appropriate AXLE SHAFTS - REAR article in DRIVELINE/AXLE. Remove the front drive shaft. See appropriate DRIVE SHAFTS & UNIVERSAL JOINTS article in DRIVELINE/AXLE.
- Place an adjustable support beneath the torque tube. Loosen, but DO NOT remove the torque tube-to-bracket through-bolt and nut. Remove torque tube bracket-to-body bolts. Remove the differential carrier-to-cradle mounting bolts, nuts, washers and mounts from the differential. During the removal of the axle shaft, the differential output shaft may become disengaged from the differential. If this occurs, firmly grasp and separate the output shaft from the axle shaft. Align the splines on the output shaft to the differential and reposition the output shaft to the differential.
- While simultaneously moving the differential assembly to the right side of the vehicle, disengage the left axle shaft from the differential. Remove the rear differential and torque tube as an assembly. Remove the torque tube from the differential. See TORQUE TUBE ASSEMBLY .