GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 321
Fig. 6: Transmission mounts for vehi cles equipped with the 3.1L engine
10. Remove the torque arm-to-transmission bolts.
11. Remove the flywheel cover, t hen mark the relationship between the
torque converter and the flywheel so that these parts may be
reassembled in the same relationship.
12. Remove the torque converter-t o-flywheel attaching bolts.
13. Support the transmission with a ja ck, then remove the transmission
mount bolt.
14. Unbolt and remove the transmission crossmember.
15. Lower the transmission slightly. Disco nnect the throttle valve cable and
oil cooler lines from the transmission.
16. Support the engine using GM specia l tool BT-6424 or its equivalent.
Remove the transmission- to-engine mounting bolts.
GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 322
CAUTION - The transmission must be secu red to the transmission jack
17. Remove the transmission from the vehicle. Be careful not to damage the oil cooler lines, throttle valve cable, or the shift control cable. Also, keep
the rear of the transmissi on lower than the front to avoid the possibility of
the torque converter disengagi ng from the transmission.
To install: 18. Position the transmission and converter into place.
19. Install the transmission -to-engine mounting bolts.
20. Connect the throttle valve cable and oil cooler lines to the transmissio\
n.
21. Install the transmission cro ssmember and secure with bolts.
22. Install the transmission mount bolt.
23. Matchmark the torque converter-to-f lywheel. Install the torque converter-
to-flywheel attaching bolts.
Before installing the converter-to-flywheel bolts, be sure that the weld nuts on
the converter are flush with the flywheel, and that the converter rotates freely by
hand in this position.
24. Install the flywheel cover.
25. Install the torque arm-to-transmission bolts.
26. Connect the speedometer cable, el ectrical connectors and the shift
control cable from the transmission.
27. Connect the catalytic converter s upport bracket at the transmission.
28. Align the matchmark m ade earlier, then install the driveshaft to the axle
pinion. Bolt the universal joint straps to the pinion flange.
29. Lower the vehicle.
30. Install the dipstick tube using a ne w dipstick tube O-ring and secure with
the bolt. Install the tran smission oil dipstick.
31. Connect the throttle valve (TV) c ontrol cable at the carburetor.
32. Install the air cleaner assembly.
33. Connect the negative battery cable at the battery.
DRIVELINE
DRIVESHAFT AND U-JOINTS
The U-joint is secured to the yoke in one of two ways. Dana and Cleveland
shafts use a conventional snapring to ho ld each bearing cup in the yoke. The
snapring fits into a groove located in eac h yoke end just on top of each bearing
cup. The Saginaw design shaft secures its U-joints in another way. Nylon
material is injected through a small hole in the yoke and flows along a circular
groove between the U-joint and the yoke , creating a synthetic snapring.
Disassembly of the Saginaw U-joint requi res the joint to be pressed from the
yoke. This results in damage to the be aring cups and destruction of the nylon
rings.
GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 327
REAR AXLE
IDENTIFICATION
The rear axle code and the
manufacturers code, plus the date built, is stamped
on the forward side of the right axle tube. Any reports made on the rear axle
assemblies must include the full code le tters and the date built numbers. The
Limited-slip differentials are identified by a tag attached to the lower right
section of the axle.
Fig. 1: Rear axle ID code
DETERMINING AXLE RATIO
An axle ratio is obtained by dividing the number of teeth on the drive pinion gear
into the number of teeth on the ring gear. For instance, on a 4.11 ratio, the
driveshaft will turn 4.11 times for every turn of the rear wheel.
The most accurate way to determine the ax le ratio is to drain the differential,
remove the cover, and count the num ber of teeth on the ring and pinion.
An easier method is to jack and support th e car so that both rear wheels are off
the ground. Make a chalk mark on the r ear wheel and the driveshaft. Block the
front wheels and put the transmission in Neutral. Turn the rear wheel one
complete revolution and count the number of turns made by the driveshaft. The
number of driveshaft rotations is the ax le ratio. More accuracy can be obtained
by going more than one tire revolution and dividing the result by the number of
tire rotations.
The axle ratio is also identified by the ax le serial number prefix on the axle; the
axle ratios are listed in dealer's parts books according to prefix number. Some
axles have a tag on the cover.
AXLE SHAFT, BEARING AND SEAL
Axle shafts are the last link in the chain of components working to transmit
engine power to the rear wheels. The sp lined end of each shaft meshes with the
GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 328
internal splines of each differential side
gear. As the side gears turn, so do the
axle shafts, and, since they are also connected, so do the wheels.
Each shaft passes through the side gear and is locked into place by either a C-
lock or flange plate bolted to the end of the axle housing with pressed on
bearings. As the name implies, the C-lock is a flat, C-shaped piece of metal that
fits into a groove at t he end of the shaft. A round pinion shaft is wedged in
between the end of the shafts. This pinion shaft prevents the shafts from sliding
inward and makes the C-locks functional by pushing them tightly against each
side gear. Removing this pini on shaft allows the shafts to slide inward making
the C-locks accessible for removal. Once the C-locks are removed, the axle
shafts can be pulled from the car.
The wheel end of each shaft is flanged and pressed into it are five wheel lug
bolts serving to hold on t he wheel. Each axle shaft is supported by an axle
bearing (wheel bearing) and oil seal located within the axle shaft housing just to
the outside of the br ake backing plate.
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
EXCEPT BORG-WARNER REAR ASSEMBLY 1. Raise and support the vehicle safe ly. Remove the rear wheels and
drums or rotors.
2. Remove the carrier cover and drain t he gear oil into a suitable container.
Fig. 1: Clean the area around the bolts
GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 334
Fig. 10: Seal installation
7. Install tool J-22813-01 or equivalent, into the bore of the axle housing
and position it behind t he bearing, ensure the tangs of the tool engage
the outer race. Remove the bearing using a slide hammer.
8. Installation is the reverse of the removal procedure. Lubricate the new
bearing and sealing lips wi th gear lube before installing. Tighten the
pinion gear shaft lock screw to 27 ft. lbs. (36 Nm). Tighten the carrier
cover bolts to 22 ft. lbs. (30 Nm).
BORG-WARNER REAR ASSEMBLY
The Borg-Warner axle assembly can be quickly identified by checking the axle
code. The Borg-Warner axle num bers are 4EW, 4EU and 4ET on 1988
vehicles, BET, BEU and BEW on 1989 vehicles and 9EQ and 9ER on 1990
vehicles.
1. Raise the vehicle and support is safely.
2. Remove the rear wheels and drums or rotors. Remove the brake components as required.
Fig. 11: Borg-Warner axle shaft removal
GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 335
Fig. 12: Bearing & seal installed
3. Remove the 4 nuts attaching the brake anchor plate and outer bearing
retainer to the axle housing.
4. Remove the axle shaft and wheel bearing assembly using axle shaft removal tool J-21595 and slide hammer J-2619 or equivalent.
5. To remove the inner bearing retai ner and the bearing from the axle shaft,
split the retainer with a chisel, then re move it from the shaft. Using tool J-
22912-01, press the bearing off the shaft.
6. Installation is the reverse of the removal procedure. Make sure the axle
seal is installed with the spring side facing the center of the axle. Tighten
the backing plate bolts to 36 ft. lbs. (49 Nm).
There are right (black banded) and left (gold banded) axle seals and they
cannot be interchanged.
PINION SEAL
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
EXCEPT BORG-WARNER REAR AXLE 1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Remove both rear wheel and tire assemblies.
3. Matchmark the driveshaft and pinion yoke so they may be reassembled
in the same position. Remove the driveshaft.
4. Using a suitable punch, mark the posit ion of the pinion yoke, pinion shaft
and nut so proper reinstallati on preload can be maintained.
GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 337
7. Use a suitable tool to remove the pinion seal.
To install: 8. Inspect the sealing surfaces of the pinion yoke for nicks or damage and
replace, as necessary. Examine the carrier bore and remove any burrs
that may cause leaks around the outside of the seal.
Fig. 3: Seal installation
9. Install the seal using a suitable installer.
10. Apply a seal lubricant to the outer diameter of the pinion flange and the
sealing lip of the new seal.
11. Install the pinion yoke on the drive pinion by taping with a soft-face
hammer until a few pinion threads project through the pinion yoke.
12. Install the washer an d pinion flange nut. While hol ding the pinion yoke,
tighten the nut to the same positi on as marked earlier, then tighten an
additional
1/16 in. (1.6mm) turn beyond the marks.
13. Install the driveshaft.
14. Install the rear wheels and tires. Check and add the correct lubricant, as
necessary.
BORG-WARNER REAR AXLE 1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Remove both rear wheel and tire assemblies.
3. Matchmark the driveshaft and pinion yoke so they may be reassembled
in the same position. Remove the driveshaft.
4. Using a beam-type inch pound to rque wrench on the pinion yoke nut,
measure and record the amount of pi nion bearing, axle bearings and
GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 338
seal preload. Turn the torque wrenc
h smoothly for several rotations and
record the amount of preload as the a ssembly is turning, not the initial
force required to start the assembly moving.
Preload is measured as the amount of torque required to turn the assembly.
5. Using a suitable tool to hold the pi nion yoke in place, remove the pinion
yoke nut and washer.
6. Place a suitable contai ner under the differential to catch any fluid that
may drain from the rear axle. Using a suitable tool, remove the pinion
flange.
7. Use a suitable tool to remove the pinion seal.
To install: 8. Inspect the seal surface of the pinion flange for tool marks, nicks or
damage and replace, as necessary. Examine the carrier bore and
remove any burrs that might cause leaks around the outside of the seal.
9. Install the seal 0.010 in. (0.2 5mm) below the flange surface using a
suitable seal installer.
10. Apply suitable seal lubricant to t he outer diameter of the pinion flange
and the sealing lip of the new seal.
11. Install the pinion flan ge on the drive pinion by taping with a soft hammer
until a few pinion threads projec t through the pinion flange.
12. Install the washer and pinion fla nge nut. While holding the pinion flange,
tighten the nut a little at a time and turn the drive pinion several
revolutions after each tightening, to set the bearing rollers. Check the
preload each time with a suitable inch pound to rque wrench until the
preload is 5 inch lbs. (0.6 Nm) more then the reading obtained during
disassembly.
13. Install the driveshaft.
14. Install the rear wheels and tires. Check and add the correct lubricant, as
necessary.
AXLE HOUSING
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION 1. Raise the vehicle and support it sa fely. Be sure that the rear axle
assembly is supported safely.
2. Disconnect shock absorbers from ax le. Remove the wheel assemblies.
3. Mark driveshaft and pinion flange, then disconnect driveshaft and support out of the way.
4. Remove brake line junction block bolt at axle housing. If necessary,
disconnect the brake lines at the junction block.