FLUID TYPE
Use SAE 80W-90 or 90W hypoid gear lubricant with MIL-L-2105-C
and API GL-5 ratings.
TROUBLE SHOOTING
NOTE: See appropriate table in TROUBLE SHOOTING article in GENERAL
INFORMATION.
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
AXLE SHAFT & HUB BEARING
Removal
1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove brake
caliper with hose attached, and secure aside. DO NOT allow brake
caliper to hang by brake hose. Remove brake rotor. Remove ABS wheel
speed sensor (if equipped). Remove grease cap from center of front
hub. Remove cotter pin from end of axle shaft. Remove axle nut and
washer.
2) Remove hub/bearing assembly-to-knuckle bolts. Remove
hub/bearing assembly from steering knuckle and axle shaft. Remove
brake dust shield. To remove right (passenger-side) axle shaft,
carefully pull axle shaft from axle housing.
NOTE: Left axle shaft will disengage from collar located on
intermediate axle shaft.
3) To remove left (driver's side) axle shaft, disconnect
electrical connector and vacuum hoses at vacuum shift motor. Remove
bolts, vacuum shift motor and gasket. Carefully pull axle shaft from
axle housing and collar on intermediate axle shaft.
Installation
1) Install NEW oil seal on axle shaft with seal lip facing
toward splines on differential end of axle shaft. Coat seal lip with
wheel bearing grease.
2) Install right axle shaft into axle housing. Ensure axle
shaft engages with side gears in differential.
3) To install left axle shaft, ensure collar is engaged with
splines on intermediate axle shaft. Install left axle shaft into axle
housing. Ensure axle shaft engages with splines on collar. Install
vacuum shift motor, ensuring fork on vacuum shift motor engages groove
on collar. Install and tighten bolts to specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS table.
4) To complete installation, reverse removal procedure. Apply
silicone rubber sealant to edge of grease cap before installing.
Tighten bolts/nuts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
DRIVE SHAFT
Removal
1) Raise and support vehicle. Ensure transmission and
transfer selector levers case are in Neutral. Reference mark drive
shaft and pinion flange for reassembly reference.
2) Remove bolts and "U" joint straps at pinion flange. Remove
center carrier bearing bolts (if equipped). Remove drive shaft.
CAUTION: The "U" joint components are not serviceable. Replace
complete assembly. DO NOT reuse.
Installation
To install, reverse removal procedure using NEW "U" joint
straps and bolts. Ensure all reference marks are aligned. Tighten
bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
PINION FLANGE & OIL SEAL
Removal
1) Raise and support vehicle. Reference mark drive shaft and
pinion flange on differential for reassembly. Remove bolts and "U"
joint straps at pinion flange on differential. Disconnect drive shaft
from differential, and support it aside.
2) Using INCH-lb. torque wrench, measure amount of force
required to rotate pinion. This is pinion bearing preload. Record
pinion bearing preload for reassembly reference.
3) Remove pinion nut and washer from pinion. Scribe reference
mark on pinion flange and pinion for reassembly. Using Holder (C-3281)\
and appropriate flange remover, remove pinion flange from pinion.
Remove oil seal from axle housing.
Installation
1) Ensure oil seal surface in axle housing is clean. Coat lip
of oil seal with gear lube. Using appropriate oil seal installer and
handle, install oil seal.
2) Install pinion flange on pinion with reference mark
aligned. Press pinion flange onto pinion. Install washer and pinion
nut. Tighten pinion nut while rotating pinion, ensuring bearings are
properly seated. Tighten nut until preload measured before disassembly
is achieved. DO NOT exceed maximum torque specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS table.
3) To install remaining components, reverse removal procedure
using NEW "U" joint straps and bolts. Ensure all reference marks are
aligned. Tighten bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
table. Check lubricant level and add if necessary.
AXLE HOUSING ASSEMBLY
NOTE: Removing axle housing assembly is not necessary unless axle
housing is damaged. Differential carrier and components can
be serviced by removing differential assembly from axle
housing.
Removal
1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove front wheels. Reference
mark drive shaft to pinion flange for reassembly. Remove bolts and "U"
joint straps at pinion flange. Remove drive shaft, and support aside.
Remove brake calipers, and support aside with wire. DO NOT allow
calipers to hang from brake hoses.
2) Disconnect ABS sensor harness connectors (if equipped).
Disconnect drag link and tie rod from steering knuckles. Disconnect
shock absorber from axle housing. Disconnect stabilizer bar links at
spring brackets.
3) Disconnect electrical connector and vacuum hoses at vacuum
shift motor. Support axle housing assembly with floor jack. Remove
bolts from upper and lower suspension arms. Lower axle housing
assembly from vehicle and remove.
Installation
To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure reference marks
on drive shaft and pinion flange align. Tighten suspension arms with
vehicle at normal operating height. Tighten bolt/nuts to
specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table. Check axle fluid level
and fill if necessary.
STEERING KNUCKLES
Removal & Installation
1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove hub bearing and axle
shaft. Remove tie rod or drag link end from steering knuckle arm.
Remove ABS sensor harness and bracket from steering knuckle.
2) Remove cotter pin from upper ball stud nut. Remove upper
and lower ball stud nuts. Using a brass hammer, strike steering
knuckle to remove knuckle from axle tube yokes.
3) To install, reverse removal procedure. On 216 FBI axles,
tighten lower and upper ball stud nuts to specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS table.
4) On 248 FBI axles, tighten lower ball stud nut to
specification. DO NOT install cotter pin at this time. Install and
tighten upper ball stud nut to specification. Retorque lower ball stud
nut to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
AXLE SHIFT MOTOR
Removal & Installation
1) Disconnect vacuum and wiring connector from shift housing.
Remove indicator switch, shift motor housing cover, gasket and shield
from housing.
2) To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure shift fork
is correctly guided into shift collar groove. Tighten mounting bolts
to 96 INCH lbs. (11 N.m). Add 5 ounces (148 ml) of GL-5 gear lubrica\
nt
to shift motor housing through indicator switch mounting hole.
DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY
NOTE: Differential assembly consists of differential case and
components mounted in axle housing. For differential assembly
servicing, see DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY under OVERHAUL.
OVERHAUL
DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY
Disassembly
1) Remove axle shafts from differential. See AXLE SHAFT & HUB
BEARING under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
2) Note identification marks on bearing caps and axle housing
for reassembly reference. Bearing caps must be installed in original
location. If marks are not present, place marks on bearing caps and
axle housing.
3) Remove bolts and bearing caps. Place Axle Housing Spreader
(W-129-B) on axle housing so dowel pins engage with locating holes.
See Fig. 1 . Install hold-down clamps. Finger tighten turnbuckle on
axle housing spreader.
4) Install pilot stud and dial indicator on axle housing.
Position dial indicator so stem is resting against opposite side of
axle housing, with pressure on stem.
CAUTION: DO NOT spread axle housing more than .020" (.50 mm), or axle
housing may be damaged.
5) Adjust dial indicator to zero. Tighten turnbuckle enough
to spread axle housing for differential case removal while noting
reading on dial indicator. Dial indicator reading should not exceed .
020" (.50 mm).