Pinion Gear: Service and Repair
Drive Pinion Housing and/or Seal Replacement
Tools Required
* J 44851 Pinion Seal Installer
* J 44873 Pinion Flange Holder and Remover
Removal Procedure
1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Vehicle Lifting.
2. Remove the propeller shaft underbody guard loop bolts.
3. Remove the guard loop.
4. Reference mark the propeller shaft flange-to-input flange relationship at the rear drive module (RDM).
5. Remove the propeller shaft flange mounting bolts at the RDM input flange.
6. Position the end of the propeller shaft away from the RDM and secure with heavy mechanics wire, or equivalent.
7. Remove the propeller shaft shield mounting bolts (1) and the propeller shaft shield (2).
8. Place a container under the RDM housing.
9. Remove the RDM drain plug.
10. Drain the RDM fluid.
11. Install the J 44873 (1) to the pinion flange (2).
12. Using a breaker bar to hold the J 44873 stationary, loosen the pinion flange nut.
13. Remove and discard the input flange nut (1).
14. Remove the input flange (2).
15. Remove the RDM housing cover bolts (1).
16. Carefully remove the housing cover (2) from the RDM.
Important: Do not gouge the housing cover and RDM sealing surfaces.
17. Remove all traces of sealer from the housing cover and RDM sealing surfaces.
18. Clean the housing cover and RDM sealing surfaces with denatured alcohol or equivalent, and dry with a clean, lint free cloth.
19. Remove the clutch drum (2) from the housing cover (1).
20. Remove the input flange oil seal (1) from the housing cover.
21. Remove and discard the filter assembly.
Installation Procedure
1. Install a new filter assembly.
2. Install the locating pins, if removed.
3. Install the clutch drum (1) to the pinion shaft (2) by shaking the drum while rotating the drum back and forth to engage the splines of the pump rotor and bushing.
4. When properly engaged, the clutch drum will be fully seated against the clutch drum oil seal (1).
5. Apply a continuous bead of sealer Saturn P/N 12346240 of equal height and width to the RDM housing sealing surface.
Apply sealer to a height and width of 2.5 mm (0.098 in).
Important: Do not disturb the sealer bead applied to the RDM sealing surface.
6. Install the clutch housing cover (1) to the RDM.
7. Hand install the clutch housing cover bolts (2).
Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice.
8. Install the housing cover mounting bolts (1).
Tighten the bolts to 26 N.m (19 lb ft).
Important: Strict adherence to the sealer cure time must be observed.
9. Allow the sealer to cure a minimum of 8 hours.
10. Using the J 44851 (1) install the input shaft seal (2) to the housing cover (3).
11. Install the dust deflector (2) to the input flange (1) if removed.
12. Install the input flange (2) to the clutch shaft.
13. Hand install a new input flange nut (1) to the clutch shaft.
14. Install the J 44873 (1) to the pinion flange (2).
15. Using a breaker bar to hold the J 44873 stationary, tighten the pinion nut.
Tighten the nut to 203 N.m (150 lb ft).
16. Thoroughly clean the drain plug threads and apply thread sealer Saturn P/N 21485278 to the plug threads.
17. Install the RDM drain plug.
Tighten the plug to 30 N.m (22 lb ft).
18. Remove the RDM fill plug.
19. Thoroughly clean the fill plug threads and apply thread sealer Saturn P/N 21485278 to the plug threads.
20. Fill the RDM with lubricant.
21. Install the fill plug.
Tighten the plug to 35 N.m (26 lb ft).
22. Thoroughly clean and apply threadlocker Saturn P/N 21005994 to the propeller shaft flange mounting bolt threads.
23. Align the reference marks on the propeller shaft flange and the RDM input flange.
24. Install the propeller shaft flange mounting bolts.
Tighten the bolts to 50 N.m (37 lb ft).
25. Install the propeller shaft shield (2) to the RDM.
26. Install the propeller shaft shield mounting bolts (1).
Tighten the bolts to 25 N.m (18 lb ft).
27. Install the propeller shaft underbody guard loop.
28. Install the propeller shaft underbody guard loop bolts.
Tighten the bolts to 24 N.m (18 lb ft).
29. Lower the vehicle.