Removal & Installation
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 Ford Pickup. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- With the vehicle in Neutral, raise and support the vehicle. Index mark the drive shaft flange to the rear axle pinion flange. See Fig 1 . Remove the 4 rear axle flange bolts. Index mark the drive shaft and the extension housing. See Fig 2 .
- Using a suitable tool, disconnect the drive shaft flange from the rear axle pinion flange. Pry only in the area shown, with a suitable tool, to disconnect the drive shaft flange from the pinion flange. See Fig 3 .
- Make sure the index marks on the extension housing and drive shaft are aligned before separation. Lower the drive shaft and separate it from the transmission.
- To install, reverse the removal procedure. The drive shaft flange fits tightly on the rear axle pinion flange pilot. To make sure that the drive shaft flange seats squarely on the pinion flange, tighten the bolts evenly, to specification in a crisscross pattern as shown. See Fig 4 . See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .
NOTE:
The drive shaft flange fits tightly on the rear axle pinion flange pilot. Never hammer on the drive shaft or any of its components to disconnect the drive shaft flange from the pinion flange.