Rear Axle Assembly - Jeep Cherokee 1988 Quick Start Manual

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. Mark drive
pinion shaft and yoke for reassembly reference. Remove yoke and pinion
oil seal.
Installation
1) Coat new seal with rear axle lubricant and install. Align
marks made at disassembly and install yoke. Install new pinion nut and
tighten just enough to remove end play.
CAUTION: DO NOT overtighten pinion nut. If desired preload is
exceeded, a new collapsible pinion spacer sleeve must be
installed and drive pinion preload reset.
2) Using an INCH lb. torque wrench, check torque required to
turn pinion. Refer to torque reading recorded during disassembly and
add 5 INCH lbs. (.6 N.m) for correct preload. Tighten pinion nut
slightly and recheck preload. Repeat procedure until desired preload
is obtained.

REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY

Removal
1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheels and brake drums.
Disconnect brake hose-to-axle connection and plug line.
2) Disconnect parking brake cable at brake equalizer. Mark
and remove drive shaft. Disconnect track bar at axle bracket (if
equipped). Remove axle vent tube at axle. Support axle assembly.
Remove spring "U" bolts and tie plates.
3) Loosen, but do not remove, bolts which attach front of
rear spring to frame brackets. Lift axle to relieve axle weight from
springs and remove bolts retaining springs to shackles. Lower springs
to floor. Lower jack and remove axle assembly.
NOTE: Factory axles are shipped without lubricant. When adding
lubricant, position axle horizontally with yoke end of
pinion housing facing downward. Turn pinion shaft several
times to lubricate bearings.
Installation
1) To install, support axle assembly with jack and slide axle
into place. Raise, align and install spring-to-frame and shackle
bolts. Tighten spring-to-frame and shackle bolts to 111 ft. lbs. (150
N.m). Install brake hose, axle vent tube and parking brake cable.
Align and connect drive shaft.
2) Bleed hydraulic system and adjust parking brake cable.
Ensure axle is filled with 75-90W gear lubricant. Ensure spring
centering bolt heads are seated in axle spring seat before tightening
"U" bolts.
OVERHAUL
DISASSEMBLY
NOTE: It is not necessary to remove axle assembly from vehicle to