Differential Bearings: Removal
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Mercury Mountaineer and 2005 Ford Explorer. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Remove the rear axle assembly.
- Remove the differential housing cover and drain the lubricant.
- Using the special tools, mount the differential housing to a work bench.
- Attach the special tools to the differential housing with 4 differential housing cover bolts.
- Attach the special tools together with 2 3/8-inch x 1-1/2-inch bolts.
- Install the special tool by placing the spreader pins in the hole in the housing spreader adapters.
- Assemble the special tools.
- Install the special tool.
- Attach the special tool and position the tip in the housing spreader adapter hole.
- Spread the differential housing to the specification.
- Adjust the special tool to zero.
- Tighten the screw until the differential housing is spread to the specification.
- Remove the special tool.
- Remove the differential bearing caps.
- Remove the differential bearing cap bolts.
- Remove the differential bearing caps.
- Remove the differential assembly.
- Position wood blocks at the top and bottom of the differential assembly.
- Pry the differential assembly and the differential bearing shims out of the differential housing.
- Remove the special tool.
- Using the special tools, remove the differential bearings.
- If necessary, disassemble the differential assembly.
- Using the special tool, hold the pinion flange to remove and discard the pinion nut.
- Index-mark the pinion flange to the drive pinion stem.
- Using the special tool, remove the pinion flange.
- Use a screwdriver to force up the metal flange of the drive pinion oil seal. Install gripping pliers and strike with a hammer to remove the drive pinion oil seal.
- Remove the drive pinion oil seal deflector, drive pinion oil seal slinger, the outer pinion bearing and the drive pinion collapsible spacer.
- Using the special tool and a soft-faced hammer, remove the differential pinion gear from the differential housing.
- Using the special tool and a press, remove the drive pinion inner bearing.
- Position the special tool under the drive pinion inner bearing.
- Using a press, remove the inner drive pinion bearing and shim.
- Using a brass drift and a hammer, remove the differential drive pinion bearing cups from the differential housing. Tap alternately on each side of the cup to prevent them from cocking in the bore.
CAUTION:
Do not damage the aluminum differential housing while carrying out these procedures.
CAUTION:
RH spreader set screw must not be adjusted further down than flush or the spreader rocks and damages the seal and the housing.
CAUTION:
Overspreading can damage the differential housing.
NOTE:
Tighten and loosen the differential carrier spreader screw to normalize the housing spreader adapters prior to taking the final dial indicator reading.
CAUTION:
Mark the position and location of the differential bearing caps as the arrows may not be visible. Always install the differential bearing caps in their identical locations and positions.
CAUTION:
Use wood blocks to avoid damaging the differential housing.