Chevrolet 1977 light duty truck Service Manual page 370

CHEVROLET 10-1/2 RING GEAR
AXLES
AXLE ASSEMBLY
Service operations on these axle assemblies may be
perform ed with the housing installed in the vehicle or
with the housing installed in a holding fixture. There
m ay be occasions, however, when it will be necessary to
remove the complete housing assembly. The following
axle assembly removal
therefore, is necessary only when housing replacement is
required.
axle attachm ents are important
C A U T IO N :/!//
attaching parts. See CA U TIO N on page 1 o f
this section.
Removal
1. Raise vehicle, place stand jacks under fram e
side rails, and remove rear wheels.
2. Remove two trunnion bearing " U " bolts from
the re a r yoke, split rear universal joint, position propeller
shaft to one side, and tie it to the frame side rail.
N O T E: The bearings can be left on the trunnion
and held in place with tape.
3. Remove hub and drum assembly and disconnect
p ark in g brake cable at lever and at flange plate. See
Section 5 for cable removal.
4. Disconnect hydraulic brake hose at connector on
rear axle housing. Refer to Section 5.
5. Disconnect shock absorbers at axle brackets.
6. Support axle assembly with
remove spring " U " bolts, and lower axle assembly to the
floor.
Installation
1. Place axle assembly under vehicle, raise into
position, install spring " U " bolts, anchor plates and nuts,
and tighten securely.
2. Connect and secure shock absorbers to axle
brackets.
3. Connect brake hose at connector on rear axle
housing.
4. Connect parking brake cable at lever and flange
plate. Install hub and d ru m
hydraulic system and adjust p ark in g brake.
N O T E: Before reinstalling wheel hub and drum
assembly replace hub oil seal.
5. Reassemble the re a r universal joint, making
sure that " U " bolts are draw n up tight and locked
properly. Caution should be taken not to overtighten
" U "
bolt nuts and cause
distorted.
6. Install rear wheels, remove stand jacks, and
lower vehicle.
7. Test operation o f brakes and rear axle.
and installation procedure,
hydraulic jack,
assembly. Bleed brake
bearing cups to become
AXLE SHAFT
Replacement
1. Remove bolts that attach the axle shaft flange to
the wheel hub. See figure 4B-30.
2. Rap on flange with a soft-faced h a m m e r to
loosen shaft. G rip the rib on end o f flange with a p a ir of
locking pliers and twist to start shaft removal. Remove
shaft from axle tube.
3. Thoroughly clean both the axle shaft flange and
the end of the wheel hub.
NOTE: Any lubricant on these surfaces tends to
loosen axle shaft flange bolts.
4. Place a new gasket over the axle shaft and
position the axle shaft in the housing so that the shaft
splines enter the differential side gear. Position gasket so
that holes are in alignment and install flange-to-hub
attaching bolts. Torque bolts to specifications.
HUB AND D R U M ASSEMBLY—FIG. 4B-31
Removal
1. Remove axle shaft as outlined earlier.
2. Disengage tang o f retainer from slot or flat of
locknut, then remove locknut from housing tube, using
J-2222, as shown in figure 4B-32.
3. Disengage tang o f retainer from slot or flat of
adjusting nut and remove retainer from housing tube.
4. Use appropriate tool as specified in Step 2 to
remove adjusting nut from housing tube.
N OTE: Remove thrust washer from housing tube.
5. Pull hub and drum assembly straight off axle
housing.
6. Remove oil seal, and discard.
Bearing/Cup—Removal
I. Use a h a m m e r and long drift to knock the
bearing, cup and oil seal from the hub assembly.
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