Does anyone know all the stuff that I need to replace a rear axel. In other words the bearings and preventative maintenance stuff associated with this procedure. Thanks

 

Has anyone done this before?

 

Are you changing only an axle, the gears, the carrier or the complete rear axle assembly?

 

I'm just swapping the passenger side axel. But while I have the rear end open I'm gonna change any bearings, seals and whatever else should be periodically changed. Thanks for any help.

 

Do you know how to pull the axles out already?
I think there are 5 bearings to change, 2 on the ends where the axles are and the other 3 are in the center section.
you'll need seals for the axles if you change the bearings.
I can look at one of the rears I have lying around and take it apart and see what's involved with changing the bearings.
My brother and I swap rear-ends frequently since he keeps breaking the gears and we have to swap axles since he has ABS and Traction control while I don't have either. his axles have the reluctor rings on them.

 

Just for an axle alone, there is only one bearing-the axle bearing. It is pressed in the outside of the axle tube. There is a seal there that will have to come off first, to get to the bearing. It will have to be replaced if you remove it. You will probably need a slide hammer to remove the axle bearing.
Any other bearings that are in the rear end, support the pinion or the carrier. If you want to replace any of them, you will need to have your gears set-up, by a professional.

 

The green part is the seal and behind that is the bearing.

Axle Bearing


Basically what ShoeBox said, you will need to take a slide hammer to take out the bearings. To install them just press them back in. We used the old bearing and tapped on them to help seat the new ones.

 

that doesn't look to hard at all, I've done rear bearings before. Two questions:

1. What the heck is a "slide" hammer?
2. Does anyone know what the metal clips that ride between
the differential housing and the gear on the end of the axel.
I've heard them called c-clips. IS this correct?

Thanks for all the help everyone....

 

1. You have never seen a movie where they screw a long tool into the ignition cylinder and slam it out to jack the car? They come in many sizes and designs for various uses. Body shops use them to pull out dents.
Here is an example for one that could be used for the axle bearing. You should be able to rent one.

2. C-clip is the common term. Axle shaft lock is the book term.

 

Shoebox is a smart man.. i like using slide hammers on trans pumps.. gets them out real fast

 

Leave the bearings.

Remove the wheel, remove the caliper, remove the rotar, open the pumpkin, remove the bolt holding in the cylinder (forget what it's called), slide the cylinder out, push the axle in, pull the C-clip, slide the axle out.

The longest part will be letting the fluid drain out of the rear end. The rest is easy.

 

Well, thanks for the advice, but I'm definitely replacing the bearing while I'm in there. If the bearing is shot that could be my whole problem, I'm sure as heck not gonna take it all apart and put it back together and find out later that the bearing needs to be replaced . Now I have a 93 V6 and I was wondering, should the axels be swap-able?

 

now that I think about, I'm not talking about the c-clip, what I'm talking about rides between the gear that the c-clip holds on and the differential housing. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

 

This? (the "cylinder" that tech referred to)

All 93-97 axles without traction control appear to be the same, even the drum brake ones.

 

not the best rendition but this is what I'm talking about. Don't laugh at the drawing

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/scooby...%20is%20it.htm

Thanks for all the help.