Removal & Installation
- Raise and support vehicle. Remove rear wheel(s) on side of axle to be removed. Remove brake drum. Remove nuts attaching seal retainer and brake support plate to axle tube flange. Replace nuts when installing. DO NOT
reuse nuts. Remove axle shaft with puller and slide hammer.
- Mount axle shaft in bench vise. Center punch and drill a 1/4" (6 mm) diameter hole in bearing retaining ring. Drill approximately 3/4 of the way through ring. Cut remaining section of ring with a chisel and remove it from shaft. See Fig 1
. Remove shaft bearing with a press.
- Remove seal retainer and remove and discard outer seal. Replace retainer if worn or damaged. Remove axle shaft inner seal from tube. Clean bearing and seal surfaces in axle tube. Apply a thin coat of bearing grease to these surfaces.
- Coat lips of new axle shaft inner and outer seals with wheel bearing grease. Install new inner seal in tube. Ensure that open end of seal faces inward and that seal is fully seated. Install seal retainer and outer seal on axle shaft. Ensure that open end of seal is toward shaft bearing.
- Pack new shaft bearing with bearing grease and place bearing on shaft. Press new bearing on shaft then press new bearing retaining ring on shaft against bearing. Install axle shaft into housing. Align seal retainer and brake support plate on mounting studs. Install and tighten new seal retainer nuts to 32 ft. lbs. (43 N.m).
- Install brake drum and wheel. Tighten wheel nuts to 75 ft. lbs. (102 N.m). Check fluid level and top off if necessary. Lower vehicle.
Courtesy of CHRYSLER MOTORS.