Pontiac tempest 1968 Service Manual page 133

4 A-10
1968 P O N T I A C S E R V I C E MANUAL
4. Drive axle shaft assembly into position with
soft faced hammer.
5. Place the new outer retainer gasket (Fig. 4A-3)
and retainer over studs and install nuts. Tighten
nuts to 35 lb. ft. torque.
6. Install brake drums over wheel bolts.
7. Install wheels and tighten wheel nuts to 80 lb.
ft. torque (Pontiac) or 65 lb. ft. torque (Tempest and
Firebird).
MAJOR REPAIRS
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF
REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY
It is not necessary to remove the rear axle as­
sembly for any normal repairs. However, if the
housing is damaged, the rear axle assembly may
be removed and installed u s i n g the following
procedure:
REMOVE REAR A X L E ASSEMBLY
1. Raise rear of car high enough to permit working
underneath. Place a floor jack under center of axle
housing so it just starts to raise rear axle assembly.
Place car stands solidly under frame members on
both sides.
2. Disconnect rear universal joint from companion
flange by removing two U-bolts. Use a heavy rubber
band or tape to hold bearings onto journal, to prevent
loss of bearing rollers when joint is disconnected
if tie wire has been removed (Fig. 4A-5). Support
propeller shaft out of the way.
3. Remove both axle shafts.
4. Support both brake backing plates out of the
way.
5. Disconnect rear brake hose bracket by re­
moving top cover bolt. Remove brake line from
housing by bending back tabs.
6. Loosen remaining cover bolts, break loose
cover about 1/8" and allow lubricant to drain.
7. Disconnect shock absorbers at axle housing.
8. Pontiac and Tempest - Lower jack under axle
housing until rear springs can be removed.
Firebird - Disconnect rear spring from its
shackles and brackets and remove rear axle assem­
bly from under car.
9. Pontiac and Tempest - Disconnect upper cen-
trol arms at axle housing.
10. Pontiac and Tempest - Disconnect lower con­
trol arms at axle housing and remove rear axle
assembly from under car.
INSTALL REAR A X L E ASSEMBLY
1. Rest car solidly on stands placed under frame
side members, with rear end of car high enough to
permit working underneath. Position axle assembly
under car.
2. Pontiac and Tempest - Connect lower control
arms to axle housing but do not torque.
Firebird - Connect leaf spring front eyes to
their frame brackets but do not torque.
3. Pontiac and Tempest - Connect upper control
arms to axle housing but do not torque.
Firebird - Connect leaf spring rear eyes to
their shackles but do not torque.
4. Pontiac and Tempest - Place rear springs in
position and jack axle housing upward until shock
absorbers will reach.
Firebird - Jack axle housing upward until
shock absorbers will reach.
5. Connect shock absorbers and tighten nuts to
65 lb. ft.
6. Pontiac and Tempest - Tighten upper and lower
control arm bolts to 110 lb. ft. or nuts to 80 lb. ft.
Firebird - Tighten bracket bolt nuts to 100 lb.
ft. and shackle pin nuts to 50 lb. ft.
NOTE: Upper and lower control arms (Pontiac
and Tempest), leaf springs (Firebird) and lower
shock absorber nuts must be torqued at curb
position.
7. Install new axle housing to brake backing plate
and outer retainer gaskets, then place backing plates
in proper position and install axle shafts and wheels.
8. Connect rear universal joint to companion
flange. Install lock plates and nuts. Tighten nuts
evenly to 12 lb. ft. torque. If lockwashers are used,
tighten U-bolt nuts to 17 lb. ft. torque.
CAUTION: U-bolt nuts must be torqued as speci­
fied, as over-tightening will distort bearings and
cause early failure.