Cleaning Vent Holes; Rear Axle Housing Breather Baffle Installation; Removal And Installation Of Axle Shafts; Removal And Installation Of Differential Carrier - Cadillac 1937 LaSalle VVI Information

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R E A R W H E E L S U S P E N S I O N
2. Cleaning Vent Holes
T h e axle housings of all 37-series cars are pro-
vided w i t h vents to maintain atmospheric pressure
conditions inside the axle housing under all d r i v i n g
conditions. O n series 37-50 and 60 axle housings
the vent consists of a small hole at the top of the
housing.
O n series 37-65, 70, 75 and 85 axle housings there
are two small holes i n the bottom of the housing,
one o n each side of the d r a i n plug, which vent the
space between the inner a n d the outer housings.
O n series 37-90 cars, the vent consists of a vent
pipe in the top of the differentail housing a n d has
a fitting a n d pipe extending down the side for the
same purpose.
These holes should always be kept open; they
should i n fact be checked every time the lubricant
level is inspected. If they should become clogged,
the lubricant m a y become too high and might
overflow to the wheels, a n d get o n the brake
linings.
3. Rear Axle Breather Baffle Installation
Replacement rear axle housings supplied b y the
Parts D i v i s i o n for installation o n series 37-65, 70,
75 a n d 85 cars formerly were not fitted w i t h the
baffle for the axle housing breather. T h i s part
was purposely omitted, as the service man m a k i n g
the replacement was expected to transfer the
baffle from the replaced housing to the new
housing.
If this baffle is not changed over, rear axle
lubricant m a y leak out through the breather a n d
especially through the hole i n which the baffle
screw should have been inserted.
It is important that this baffle, shown i n
" F i g . 4, is installed i n every axle. Whenever an
axle housing is installed o n series 37-65, 70, 75 o r
85 cars, check the breather opening and make sure
that a baffle is installed.
T o insure a good seal for the baffle plate, i t is
advisable t o use a small amount of D o l p h i n i t e
Cement between the baffle and the housing i n the
same way that gasket paste is used.
Fig. 4. Axle Housing Breather
4. Removal and Installation of Axle Shafts
Semi-floating Axle—All Series except 37-90.
1. D i s m o u n t the road wheel
2. R e m o v e the retaining n u t from the end of
the axle shaft.
3. P u l l the wheel hub and brake d r u m assembly
off the shaft, using puller.
4. R e m o v e the brake dust shield, observing
the precautions given i n N o t e 9, Page 63.
N o t e T h e axle shaft is held in the housing by
the dust shield which, when bolted in
place, bears against the outer race of the
wheel bearing.
5. P u l l the shaft and bearing assembly out of
the housing, using T o o l N o . J-838.
Installation — T h e axle shaft is installed i n
the reverse order of its removal. It will be neces-
sary to bleed the brake line, which was discon-
nected to remove the dust shield. T h e axle shaft
specifications a n d interchangeability possibilities
are given i n the Axle Shaft D a t a C h a r t on Page 56.
%-Floating Axle—Series 37-90.
1. R e m o v e hub cap.
2. R e m o v e bolts from flange of wheel hub.
3. Remove wheel a n d axle shaft.
Reverse operations to install shaft.
5. Removal and Installation of Differential
Carrier
A n y service on the differential gears or ring
gear and pinion should be handled by replacement
of the complete differential carrier assembly.
N o disassembly or adjustment of this unit should
be attempted i n the service station. T o replace
the assembly:
1. Disconnect the p i n i o n shaft at the rear
universal j o i n t .
2. R e m o v e the axle shafts. (See N o t e 4).
3. R e m o v e the cap screws holding the carrier
to the axle housing and take out the entire
assembly.
To Reinstall—reverse the above procedure.
6. Removal and Installation of Universal
Joint
T o remove the universal joint o n a l l series
cars, i t is necessary o n l y to remove the cap screws
that hold the journal caps to the yokes. If a
joint is removed a n d is not to be disassembled,
the opposite bearing retainers should be wired
together to keep them i n place o n the journals of
the cross.
Disassembly of the j o i n t after removal from
the yokes is accomplished b y pulling the retainers
off the cross journals and taking out the needle
bearings.
Before reassembling a joint, wash a l l parts
thoroughly i n gasoline or kerosene and blow them
out w i t h air t o remove a l l traces o f dirt a n d grit.
R e p a c k the bearings w i t h wheel bearing grease
when assembling.