Axle Shafts & Bearings: Removal
- Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. If equipped with locking hubs, see removal and installation instructions in LOCKING HUBS and 4-WHEEL DRIVE STEERING KNUCKLES articles in this Section.
- Remove wheel and brake caliper assemblies. Remove hub dust cover and snap ring. Remove drive gear and pressure spring.
- Remove wheel bearing lock nut, lock ring, and adjusting nut, using front wheel bearing spanner.
- Remove hub and disc assembly. Remove spindle retaining nuts. Carefully remove spindle from knuckle studs and axle shaft.
- It may be necessary to tap spindle with a soft mallet to break it loose. Remove spindle, splash shield, and axle shaft assembly.
- Remove stub shaft and slip yoke assembly by removing 3 bolts attaching retainer plate to carrier housing.
- Place axle shaft in vise, and drill a 1/4" hole in housing retainer ring to a depth 3/4 of the rings thickness.
- With a chisel placed across hole, strike sharply with mallet to remove retaining ring. Replace bearing retaining ring upon assembly. Press bearing from axle shaft, using special axle bearing removal tools.
- Remove seal and retainer plate from stub shaft. Discard and replace with new seal upon assembly. DO NOT strike axle shaft to free it. DO NOT use heat from any source to remove retaining ring.
- If old bearing is to be reused and is still installed on axle shaft, lubricate it as follows: Push bearing retainer and seal toward flange end of shaft, being careful that seal does not come off machined part of shaft. Fill cavity between seal and bearing with grease.
- Wrap masking tape around seal and bearing to retain grease. With masking tape in place, pull seal up toward bearing, forcing grease into bearing. If grease does not appear at small end of rollers, repeat procedure.