Removal (Cherokee 8 1/4" Ring Gear)
- Remove wheels and brake drums. Mark drive shaft for reassembly. Remove drive shaft. Drain oil and remove housing cover. Remove pinion shaft lock screw. Remove pinion shaft.
- Push axle shafts in and remove "C" clips. Remove axles. Measure and record differential side play, ring gear runout and pinion gear preload.
- Mark differential gear and carrier at point of maximum runout. There should be no side play. If ring gear runout exceeds .005" (.13 mm), replace differential carrier.
- Remove pinion yoke and seal. Mark side bearing caps and axle housing for reassembly. Remove adjuster locks. Loosen but DO NOT remove bearing caps. Insert Hex Adjuster (C-4164) through axle tube and loosen hex adjuster on each side.
- Remove bearing caps, adjusters and differential carrier. Keep all bearing cups, bearings and adjusters together. Using brass drift, hammer pinion shaft out of housing.
- Drive bearing cups out of housing. Remove shim(s) from behind rear cups and record thickness. Remove bearing from pinion shaft using Bearing Puller (C-293-PA) and Bearing Remover Adapter (C-293-42).
- Mount differential carrier in soft-jawed vise. Remove and discard ring gear bolts (LEFT-HAND thread). Using soft-faced hammer, drive ring gear off differential carrier.