Axle Shafts & Bearings: Removal

Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. Remove wheel, brake drum retaining clips, and brake drum.
NOTE: If it is necessary to back off brake shoes to remove, drum, be sure that automatic adjuster lever is held away from starwheel before rotating starwheel.
Remove bearing retainer bolts and pull axle shaft out of housing. If axle seems stuck, install wheel to flange and use wheel for leverage.

Fig 1: Spicer (Dana) Housing Cover Gasket for Identification Purposes
Courtesy of NOT AVAILABLE

CAUTION: Do not strike axle shaft to free it.
Using a suitable puller, remove bearing cup and oil seal from bore of axle housing. To remove bearing from axle, cut through bearing retaining ring with a cold chisel without nicking axle shaft. With retainer removed, press bearing off shaft. Remove outer oil seal and retainer plate from axle shaft.
CAUTION: Do not use heat from any source to remove retaining ring.

NOTE: If old bearing is to be reused and is still installed on axle shaft, it can be lubricated as follows: Push bearing retainer and seal towards 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 towards bearing, forcing grease into bearing. If grease does not appear at small end of rollers, repeat procedures.

CAUTION: Be sure that no grease is on flange side of seal.

Fig 2: Lubricating, Bearing Installed on Axle Shaft
Courtesy of NOT AVAILABLE

Fig 3: Sectional View of Flanged Shaft End With Non-Adjustable Bearing
Courtesy of NOT AVAILABLE

Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. Remove wheel and tire assembly, and brake caliper.
Remove brake backing plate and bearing retaining plate nuts through access hole in axle shaft flange.
Bolt a suitable adapter (J-21579) to lug bolts on axle shaft flange. Attach a slide hammer to adapter and remove axle shaft from housing.
Pry out axle shaft oil seal from axle housing.
Mount axle shaft in a vise. Drill a 1/4" hole in bearing retainer ring. Drill hole to a depth 3/4 of ring thickness. Do not allow drill to contact axle shaft.
Place a chisel over drilled hole in ring. Using chisel, cut a deep groove in ring. This will enlarge ring and allow it to be removed from axle shaft.
NOTE: Do not heat retaining ring. Heat will transfer to bearing journal and weaken it.
Position a suitable support plate (J-23674) under bearing. Place bearing and support plate in a hydraulic press and remove bearing from axle shaft.
Cut through oil seal using a hacksaw. Remove seal and retainer plate. Inspect seal surface on axle shaft for damage. Repair any scratches with crocus cloth.