8.8 Inch Ring Gear
COMPANION FLANGE AND PINION OIL SEAL REMOVALReplacement of the pinion seal involves removal and installation of only the drive pinion nut and the rear axle companion flange.
1. Raise the vehicle and install safety stands. Remove the wheel covers (if equipped), rear wheels and brake drums to prevent brake drag during differential pinion bearing preload adjustment.
CAUTION: This operation disturbs the rear bearing cone and roller preload, and this preload must be carefully reset when assembling.
2. Mark the driveshaft axle end flange and the rear axle companion flange to ensure proper position of the driveshaft during assembly. Disconnect the driveshaft from the rear axle companion flange. Remove the driveshaft from the extension housing. Install an oil seal replacer tool in the extension housing to prevent oil leakage.
3. Install a pound-inch torque wrench on the pinion nut. Record the torque required to maintain rotation of the drive pinion shaft through several revolutions.
4. While holding the rear axle companion flange with Companion Flange Holding Tool T78P-4851-A, remove the pinion nut.
5. Clean the area around the pinion oil seal. Place a drain pan under the pinion oil seal, or raise the front of the vehicle higher than the rear.
Mark the rear axle companion flange in relation to drive pinion shaft so flange can be reinstalled in the same position.
6. Using Differential Bearing Cone Remover/Replacer T77F-4220-B1, remove the rear axle companion flange.
7. Pry up on metal flange of pinion oil seal. Install gripping pliers and strike with hammer until pinion seal is removed.
CAUTION: Do not damage axle housing while removing pinion oil seal.
AXLE SHAFT REMOVAL
1. Clean all dirt from the area of rear axle differential carrier cover with a wire brush or cloth.
2. Drain rear axle lubricant by removing the axle housing cover.
3. Remove lock bolt and pinion shaft.
4. Push the flanged end of the axle shafts inboard and remove the U-washer from each axle shaft.
NOTE: When removing U-washers, be careful not to lose or damage the rubber O-ring which is in the axle shaft groove under the U-washer.
5. Remove the axle shaft from the axle housing, being careful not to damage the oil seal.
WHEEL BEARING AND OIL SEAL REMOVAL
1. Using Impact Slide Hammer T50T-100-A and Rear Axle Bearing Remover T85L-1225-AH, insert into the bore as shown and position it behind the rear wheel bearing so the tangs on the tool engage the rear wheel bearing outer race. Remove the rear wheel bearing and inner wheel bearing oil seal as a unit.
DIFFERENTIAL CASE REMOVAL
NOTE: Before removing the differential case, check the ring gear runout. If ring gear runout exceeds 0.10 mm (0.004 inch), the differential case and ring gear and pinion must be removed to perform the Differential Runout Check. The Differential Case Runout Check will isolate the cause of excessive ring gear runout.
1. Mark one bearing cap to make sure the bearing caps will be installed in their original locations and positions with triangles pointing outboard.
CAUTION: Right and left bearing caps must not be interchanged.
NOTE: The direction and location of triangles on bearing retaining caps must be noted. When reassembled the triangles must be pointing in the same direction (outboard) as before removal.
2. Loosen the differential bearing cap bolts.
3. Pry the differential case, differential bearing cups and differential bearing shims out until they are loose in the bearing caps. Remove the bearing caps and remove the differential from the axle housing.
CAUTION: When using the pry bar in the following procedure, place a wood block between the pry bar and the axle housing to protect the carrier from damage.
RING GEAR AND PINION REMOVAL
1. Remove the bolts that attach the ring gear to the differential case. Remove the ring gear from the differential case by striking at alternate holes around the ring gear.
ANTI-LOCK SPEED SENSOR RING REMOVAL
1. If required, remove the anti-lock speed sensor ring with a soft faced hammer and discard. Once removed, the anti-lock speed sensor ring cannot be reused. A new anti-lock speed sensor ring must be installed.
DRIVE PINION REMOVAL
1. With a soft-faced hammer, drive the pinion out of the drive pinion bearing cone and remove it through the rear of the carrier. To remove the pinion bearing cone and roller assembly, use the Pinion Bearing Cone Remover T71P-4621-B as shown.
2. Measure the pinion shim, which is found under the drive pinion bearing cone and roller, with a micrometer and record the thickness (as a reference to be compared to the drive pinion bearing adjustment shim gauge reading prior to installing the drive pinion bearing cone and roller).
PINION BEARING CUP REMOVAL
1. If the pinion bearing cups are to be replaced, tap alternately (with a brass drift of suitable length) on the opposite side of the cups during removal to prevent cups from cocking in the casting.
NOTE: Do not remove the pinion bearing cups from the axle housing casting unless the cups are damaged.