Axle Shafts & Bearings: Removal
- Raise vehicle. Support with jack stands. Remove wheels and brake drums. Loosen differential cover bolts, but do not remove. Place drain pan below cover. Break cover loose and catch lubricant in drain pan. Remove differential cover bolts and remove cover.
- Remove differential pinion shaft lock bolt. On axles without locking differential, remove differential pinion shaft. Push flanged end of axle shaft toward center of vehicle. Remove "C" lock from button end of axle shaft.
- Remove axle shaft from axle housing, being careful not to damage seal. Repeat procedure for other side. See Fig 1 .
- On axles with locking differential, partially remove pinion shaft. Rotate differential case until pinion shaft touches edge of housing. Reach into case with screwdriver and rotate "C" lock until its open end points directly inward. When "C" lock is correctly positioned, axle shaft can be pushed inward, allowing "C" lock to be removed. Remove axle shaft. See Fig 2
.NOTE: DO NOT hammer on axle shaft. It should slide easily when "C" lock is correctly positioned. When removing axle shaft on 9 1/2" ring gear axle, be sure thrust washer in differential case does not slip out.
- With axle shaft removed, insert Bearing Remover (J-22813-01 for 7 1/2" and 7 5/8", J-23689 for 8 1/2", J-29712 for 9 1/2" ring gear) into axle housing behind bearing. Attach Slide Hammer (J-2619) and Adapter (J-2619-4 for 7 1/2" and 7 5/8" ring gear, J-2619-01 for 8 1/2" and 9 1/2" ring gear) to bearing remover and remove axle bearing and axle seal.