Axle Shafts & Bearings: Removal

Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove brake drum and brake shoes. Disconnect and plug hydraulic line from wheel cylinder. Disconnect parking brake cable.
From inboard side of backing plate, remove 4 nuts from axle housing through bolts. Pull axle shaft, backing plate, bearing housing (pickup) and shims (if equipped) from axle housing with puller. Remove oil seal from axle housing.
To replace rear bearings on pickup, flatten locking tabs of lock washer. Loosen lock nut with spanner wrench. Remove lock nut and washer.
Using a puller, remove bearing and housing assembly from axle shaft. Remove backing plate. Remove bearing and oil seal from housing. To reassemble, reverse disassembly procedure.
To replace rear bearings on all models except pickup, mount axle shaft assembly in vise or mounting fixture. Carefully grind down bearing collar, then chisel collar off without damaging axle shaft. Remove bearing and backing plate, using puller if required.
Install backing plate and spacer on shaft with chamfered edge of spacer must face axle shaft flange. Press bearing onto shaft until seated. Press new bearing collar onto shaft without any lubricant.

Fig 1: Exploded View of Axle Shaft Assembly for All Models Except Pickup
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.

Chamfered edge of spacer must face axle shaft flange.

CAUTION: Do not press bearing and collar onto shaft at the same time. If bearing collar is installed with less than 2.7 tons pressure, replace bearing collar.