Differential Assembly: Disassembly
- Raise and support vehicle. Remove the axle shafts. See AXLE SHAFT & BEARING under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Place reference mark on drive shaft flanges for reassembly reference. Remove drive shaft. Install plug in transmission extension housing to prevent oil leakage.
- Check and record ring gear runout. See RING GEAR RUNOUT
under RING GEAR & DIFFERENTIAL CASE RUNOUT CHECKING PROCEDURE. Place reference mark on bearing cap and differential housing assembly for reassembly reference.CAUTION: Mark bearing cap location for reassembly reference. Bearing caps must be installed in original location. Arrow or triangle area between bolt holes on bearing cap must point away from ring gear (toward axle shaft end of housing).
- Loosen bearing cap retaining bolts. Pry differential case, bearing races and preload shims until loose in bearing caps. See Fig 1
. Remove retaining bolts, bearing caps and differential case.CAUTION: Mark bearing races and preload shim location for reassembly reference if components are to be reused. Components must be installed in original location. DO NOT damage rear anti-lock brake sensor when removing differential case.
- Using puller, remove bearings from differential case (if replacement is required). If removing ring gear, place reference mark on differential case and ring gear for reassembly reference. Remove retaining bolts and tap ring gear from differential case.NOTE: Exciter ring must be replaced if removed from differential case. DO NOT reuse exciter ring.
- If removing exciter ring, use soft-faced hammer and tap exciter ring from differential case. Remove pinion shaft, side gears, thrust washer and pinion gears (if necessary). See Fig 1 .
- Place reference mark on pinion flange and pinion for reassembly reference. Hold pinion flange and remove pinion nut. Using Puller (T77F-4220-B1 ), remove pinion flange.
- Using soft-faced hammer, tap pinion out of front bearing assembly. Remove pinion from differential housing assembly. Using Oil Seal Remover (1175-AC and T50T-100A ), remove pinion oil seal.
- Remove front bearing assembly and collapsible spacer from differential housing assembly. See Fig 1 . If removing rear pinion bearing from pinion, use press and bearing Bearing Replacer (T71P-4621-B ) to press bearing from pinion. Measure and record thickness of pinion shim located between pinion and rear pinion bearing for reassembly reference.
NOTE:
DO NOT
remove pinion bearing races from differential housing assembly unless replacement is required. Pinion bearings must also be replaced if bearing races are replaced.