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REAR AXLES
•
STANDARD DIFFERENTIAL SERVICE
CAUTION: Whenever a rear axle is being serviced
or anytime it is to be rotated via the engine (or by
another means), RAISE BOTH REAR WHEELS off
the surface.
It is not necessary to remove the complete axle
from the vehicle to service a standard differential.
To replace the differential side gears, it is neces-
sary to remove only the axle shafts, the differential
housing cover, the lubricant and the differential
case. To replace the differential bearings, it is nec-
essary to remove only the axle shafts, the differen-
tial housing cover, the lubricant, the differential
case and to adjust the ring gear "backlash".
REMOVAL/DISASSEMBLY
(1) T h o r o u g h l y clean the outside surface area o f the
d i f f e r e n t i a l housing and the axle shaft tubes w i t h a
a n appropriate cleaning solvent a n d t h e n d r y t h e
surface w i t h compressed air.
(2) Remove the differential housing cover screws
and t h e cover, and d r a i n t h e lubricant i n t o a con-
t a i n e r .
(3) Remove the R W A L brake sensor hold-down bolt
and p u l l t h e sensor f r o m t h e differential housing.
The
sensor must be removed t o prevent
damage
w h e n disassembling
o r assembling t h e differential
components.
(4) W a s h and clean t h e differential case, the bear-
ings, t h e r i n g gear, the drive p i n i o n gear and the i n -
t e r n a l surface of the housing w i t h a a n appropriate
cleaning solvent. D r y w i t h compressed air.
(5) D e t e r m i n e i f the clearance between t h e differ-
e n t i a l b e a r i n g caps and bearing cups is excessive by
a t t e m p t i n g t o insert a 0.003- inch (0.076-mm) t h i c k
feeler gauge blade between them. N o r m a l l y , a 0.003-
i n c h (0.076-mm) t h i c k feeler gauge blade should be
too t h i c k t o be inserted between a bearing cap and
cup.
I f t h e c l e a r a n c e i s m o r e t h a n 0.003 i n c h (0.076
m m ) , t h e c a u s e c o u l d b e t h a t t h e a p p l i c a b l e
b e a r i n g c u p r o t a t e d i n t h e d i f f e r e n t i a l h o u s i n g
" s e a t " a n d c a u s e d e x c e s s i v e w e a r .
(6) N o t e t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n reference letters stamped
into the differential bearing caps and i n t o t h e differ-
e n t i a l h o u s i n g machined sealing surface (Fig. 3). The
letters a r e stamped horizontally o n the left side and
are stamped vertically o n the r i g h t side of t h e differ-
e n t i a l housing. A l w a y s match t h e reference letters
w h e n i n s t a l l i n g the differential bearing caps.
(7) Remove the differential bearing caps.
Position Spreader Tool D-167 on the differential
housing w i t h the tool dowel pins "seated" i n t h e lo-
cating holes (Fig. 4). I n s t a l l t h e holddown
clamps
and t i g h t e n the tool t u r n b u c k l e " f i n g e r - t i g h t " .
IDENTIFICATION MARKS
Fig. 4 Differential Housing Separation
(9) I n s t a l l a pilot stud a t the left side o f t h e differ-
e n t i a l housing. A t t a c h D i a l Indicator Tool C-3339 t o
the differential housing ( v i a the p i l o t stud) w i t h t h e
indicator plunger s l i g h t l y "loaded" against the oppo-
site side of the differential housing (Fig. 4). "Zero"
the d i a l indicator pointer.
CAUTION: Do not exceed the specified separation
distance when separating the differential housing. If
the housing is over-separated, it could be distorted
or damaged, which would necessitate replacement.
(10) T i g h t e n t h e spreader tool t u r n b u c k l e (Fig. 4)
and separate the differential housing only enough t o
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