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DRIVE AXLE - STANDARD 1988 Jeep Cherokee 1988 DRIVE AXLES Jeep 7 9/16" & 8 7/8" Ring Gear All Models DESCRIPTION The rear axle assembly is a hypoid gear type with integral carrier housing. The standard axle uses a 7 9/16" (192 mm) diameter ring gear.
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AXLE SHAFTS & BEARINGS 1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove rear wheel and brake drum. Remove axle shaft retaining nuts. Remove axle shaft from axle tube and mount in vise. Drill a 1/4" hole 3/4 of the way through retaining ring. Use care not to drill into axle shaft. 2) Cut the ring with a chisel and remove it from the shaft.
lubricant to axle flange bearing bore and install axle. YOKE & PINION OIL SEAL Removal 1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheels and brake drums. Mark and remove drive shaft. Using an INCH lb. torque wrench, record torque required to rotate pinion several revolutions. 2) Hold yoke from turning and remove pinion nut.
perform overhaul. 1) Raise and support rear of vehicle. Remove rear cover and drain lubricant. Remove wheels, brake drums, hubs and axle shafts. 2) Mark differential bearing caps for reassembly reference and loosen them until a few threads remain engaged. Pry differential loose and remove bearing caps and differential from housing.
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size end play shims on each side of differential case. Position and install ring gear on differential case. Install replacement ring gear bolts and tighten standard axle ring gear bolts to 70-90 ft. lbs. (95-122 N.m). Tighten heavy duty drive axle bolts to 105 ft. lbs. (142 N.m).
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article and determine amount to be added or subtracted from original shim thickness to obtain starter shim thickness. DO NOT use starter shim thickness as a final shim setting. 6) Install rear bearing on pinion gear. On heavy duty rear axle, large end of bearing faces gear end of pinion.
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install rear bearing cup. See Fig. 3. NOTE: Replacement pinion gears marked more than .009" (.23 mm) should not be used. 15) See PINION DEPTH SHIM ADJUSTMENT SPECIFICATIONS to determine appropriate starter shim thickness when installing NEW gear sets. Note pinion variance numbers on new and old gear. Follow old pinion marking line across to new pinion marking column.
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2) Slowly tighten pinion nut until torque required to rotate pinion gear is 15-25 INCH lbs. (2-3 N.m). Check torque frequently and only tighten nut in small amounts. CAUTION: DO NOT overtighten pinion nut. If preload torque is exceeded, collapsible spacer must be replaced and preload reset.
using shims selected to remove end play. Tighten bearing cap bolts evenly to 57 ft. lbs. (77 N.m) for standard drive axle and 85 ft. lbs. (115 N.m) for heavy duty drive axle. Attach a dial indicator to housing so button of indicator contacts drive side of a tooth of ring gear, at a right angle to tooth.