Rear Axle Bearings & Oil Seal: Installation

Apply Multipurpose Grease (SAE J310) to oil seal, oil seal cavity and contact surfaces. Install oil seal using seal driver. Press new oil seal into bearing case until it is flush with face of bearing case. Install backing plate and bearing case.
Apply grease to external surfaces of bearing outer race. Press bearing outer race into bearing case. Install rear brake assembly and bearing case. Pack bearing case and axle threads with grease. Install new retainer ring and snap ring.

Using a feeler gauge, measure clearance between snap ring and new retainer ring. Clearance should be less than .0065" (.166 mm). If clearance exceeds specification, install a new snap ring to bring clearance to specification. See SNAP RING THICKNESS SPECIFICATION table.

SNAP RING THICKNESS SPECIFICATION

Thickness In. (mm)	Color
.060 (1.52)	Red
.067 (1.70)	Purple
.073 (1.85)	Blue
.079 (2.01)	Yellow
.085 (2.16)	Neutral

Adjust clearance between bearing case and rear axle by inserting .04" (1.0 mm) shim and "O" ring into left rear axle housing. Apply semi-drying sealant to mating surface of bearing case. See Fig 1. Install left axle shaft into rear housing, and tighten nuts diagonally to 36-43 ft. lbs. (49-58 N.m).

Fig 1: Applying Sealant (Montero, Pickup & Ram-50)
Courtesy of MITSUBISHI MOTOR SALES OF AMERICA.
Install right axle shaft without shims and "O" ring. Temporarily tighten axle shaft nuts to about 53 INCH lbs. (6 N.m). Using a feeler gauge, measure clearance between bearing case and rear axle housing.
Remove right axle shaft. Install shims to equal bearing case-to-axle housing clearance plus .002-.008" (.05-.20 mm). Install "O" ring to right rear axle housing. Apply sealant to mating surface of bearing case. See Fig 1.
Install axle into housing, tightening nuts diagonally to 36-43 ft. lbs. (49-58 N.m). Check axle shaft for .002-.008" (.05-.20 mm) end play using dial indicator. If end play is not within specification, change shims to obtain correct end play. To install remaining components, reverse removal procedure. Adjust parking brake, and bleed brake system. See BLEEDING BRAKE SYSTEM .