Front Axle: Removal
- With vehicle in neutral, position vehicle on hoist.
- Remove skid plate, if equipped.
- Remove differential housing drain plug (2) and drain the fluid.
- Install the drain plug and torque to 35 N.m (26 ft. lbs.).CAUTION:
Remove axle vent tube prior to removing axle. Failure to remove vent tube will allow axle fluid to saturate the vent and cause reduced or improper axle venting resulting in axle damage.
- Remove axle vent tube from axle.
- Remove the wheel and tire assemblies.
- Mark front propeller shaft (1) and pinion flange (2) for installation reference. Remove propeller shaft from pinion flange.
- Remove both brake calipers and hang to the side. Refer to CALIPER, DISC BRAKE, REMOVAL .
- Remove hub nuts (1) from half shafts (2).
- Remove tie rod end nut (1).
- Remove stabilizer bar link bolts (7) from lower control arms.
- Separate the outer tie rod ends (3) from the knuckles (2) with Ball Joint Remover (special tool #8677, Remover, Ball Joint) (1).
- Remove the upper ball joint nuts.
- Separate the upper ball joints (2) from the knuckles (3) using Ball Joint Press (special tool #C-4150A, Press, Ball Joint) (1).
- Pull out on the steering knuckles (2) and push the half shafts (1) out of the knuckles.
- With a pry bar remove both half shafts (1) from the axle.
- Support axle with a lift/jack.
- Loosen the front axle cover bushing bolt (2) and front axle pinion nose bushing bolt (1) from crossmember.
- Remove nut and bolt (1) from front axle tube bushing (2) bracket.
- Remove bolts (1) from front axle tube bushing bracket (2).
- Remove bolts (3) from frame dampener.NOTE:
To remove the axle, tilt the front side of the axle downward while maneuvering the axle bracket. Then lower the axle and slide it to the RH side of the vehicle to clear the front axle cover mounting bracket.
- Remove the axle (1) from the vehicle.