Chrysler RAM TRUCK 2500 1994 Service Manual page 137

3 - 30 REAR SUSPENSION AND AXLE
•
REMOVAL
(1) Remove the axle shaft flange bolts.
(2) Slide the axle shaft out from the axle tube (Fig.
1).
INSTALLATION
(1) Clean the gasket contact surface area on the
flange with an appropriate solvent. Install a new
flange gasket and slide the axle shaft into the tube.
(2) Install the bolts and tighten to 122 N-m (90 ft.
lbs.) torque.
WHEEL BEARING SERVICE
REMOVAL
(1) Remove the axle shaft, refer to the removal
procedure.
(2) Remove the nut lock and adjustment nut.
(3) Remove drum and hub. The outer wheel bear­
ing will slide of with the hub.
(4) Place hub on bench and remove inner grease
seal and discard seal. Remove inner and outer bear­
ings.
CLEANING AND INSPECTION
(1) Thoroughly clean both wheel bearings and inte­
rior of the hub. Remove all of the residual lubricant.
(2) To clean the bearings:
• Soak them i n an appropriate cleaning solvent
• Strike the flat of each bearing against a hardwood
block several times
• Flush bearing between strikes
• Repeat the procedure above until each bearing is
clean
• Dry the bearings with compressed air but do not
spin them
(3) After cleaning, apply engine oil to each bearing.
(4) Rotate each bearing slowly while applying
downward force. Examine the rollers for pitting and
roughness. Replace worn or otherwise defective bear­
ings. I f a bearing has pitted or has rough surfaced
rollers replace bearing.Always replace bearing
cone and cup as a set.
(5) I f reusable, remove the engine oil from each
bearing. Pack each bearing with multi-purpose
NLGI, grade 2, EP-type lubricant.
Ensure that lubricant i s forced into a l l the
cavities between the bearing cage and rollers.
INSTALLATION
(1) I f a bearing and cup must be replaced, remove
the cup from the hub bore. Use a brass drift or an
appropriate removal tool to tap out the cup.
(2) Install the replacement bearing cup(s) with an
appropriate installation tool.
(3) Apply lubricant to surface area of the hub bore.
Install the inner wheel bearing i n the hub. Install a
replacement bearing seal with an appropriate seal in­
stallation tool.
(4) Inspect the bearing and seal contact surfaces
on the axle for burrs and/or roughness.
(5) Remove all the rough contact surfaces from the
axle. Apply a coating of multi-purpose NLGI, grade 2,
EP-type lubricant to the axle.
CAUTION: Use care t o prevent the inner wheel bear­
i n g a n d bearing seal f r o m c o n t a c t i n g the axle
t h r e a d s d u r i n g installation.
(6) Carefully slide the hub onto the axle and in­
stall outer Ayheel bearing.
(7) Install adjustment nut and tighten to 163-190
N-m (120-140 ft. lbs.) torque while rotating the
wheel.
(8) Back off adjustment nut 1/8 to 1/3 of a turn to
provide 0.001-inch to 0.010-inch wheel bearing end
play.
(9) Tap locking wedge into the spindle keyway and
adjustment nut.
(10) Install the axle shaft, refer to the installation
procedure.
COMPLETE AXLE REMOVAL/INSTALLATION
REMOVAL
It is not necessary to remove the complete axle
from the vehicle for routine differential inspection
and service. I f the differential housing, case or axle
shaft tubes are damaged the complete axle must be
removed.
(1) Raise the rear of the vehicle until the rear
wheels are not contacting the surface. Support the
vehicle body at the front of the rear springs.
(2) Use a wooden block to retain the brake pedal i n
the up position.
(3) Remove wheels, axle shafts, brake drums and
hubs. Refer to axle shaft removal procedure.
(4) Disconnect the brake line and cap the fittings
to prevent loss of brake fluid.
(5) Disconnect the parking brake cables.
Scribe installation alignment reference marks
on drive shaft U-joint and on pinion yoke.
(6) Disconnect the drive shaft U-joint from the pin­
ion yoke. Secure i t in an upright position to prevent
damage to the U-joint.
WARNING:AXLE MAY ROTATE ON SUPPORT
WHEN SPRING CLAMP BOLTS ARE REMOVED EN­
SURE AXLE IS SECURED ON SUPPORT.
(7) Support axle, remove lower shock absorber
bolts and spring clamp bolts from the axle.
(8) Remove the rear axle from the vehicle.