Inner Axle Shaft and/or Housing Replacement

Inner Shaft and/or Housing Replacement - Front Drive Axle

Removal Procedure
1. Raise the vehicle.
2. Drain the differential carrier assembly.
3. Remove the engine protection shield.





4. Disconnect the wheel drive shaft from the inner axle shaft.
It is not necessary to remove the wheel drive shaft from the vehicle.





5. Place a pry bar between the inner axle shaft flange and the inner axle shaft housing.
6. Disconnect the inner axle shaft from the differential case side gear using the pry bar.

Do not remove the inner axle shaft at this time.
7. Install a support jack underneath the differential carrier assembly.





8. Remove the upper inner shaft housing bushing bolt and nut.





9. Remove the lower inner shaft housing bushing bolt and nut.





10. Remove the inner axle shaft housing bolts from the differential carrier assembly.





11. Remove the inner axle shaft and inner axle shaft housing from the vehicle.
12. Remove the inner axle shaft from the inner axle shaft housing.
13. Remove the inner axle shaft seal and the bearing from the inner axle shaft housing.

Installation Procedure





1. Install the new inner axle shaft bearing and the new seal to the inner axle shaft housing.

Important: Do not nick or cut the inner axle shaft oil seal.

2. Install the inner axle shaft into the inner axle housing.

Do not install the inner axle shaft completely into the inner axle shaft housing at this time.
3. Apply sealant GM P/N 1052942 (Canadian P/N 10953466) or equivalent to the inner axle housing to differential carrier sealing surface.





4. Install the inner axle shad housing with the inner axle shaft to the differential carrier assembly.






Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in Service Precautions.

5. Install the inner axle shah housing bolts.

Tighten the inner axle shaft housing bolts to 48 Nm (35 ft. lbs.).





6. Install the lower inner axle shaft housing bushing bolt and nut.





7. Install the upper inner axle shaft housing bushing bolt and nut.

Tighten the upper and lower inner axle shaft housing bushing bolts to 85 Nm (63 ft. lbs.).
8. Remove the support jack.
9. Install the inner axle shaft into the differential case side gear by doing the following:
9.1. Carefully guide the inner axle shaft through the inner axle housing until the retaining ring on the inner axle shaft contacts the differential case side gear.
9.2. Install the inner axle shaft into the differential case side gear by tapping the retaining ring into the retaining groove using a soft-faced mallet and until the retaining ring on the inner axle shaft is fully seated within the groove in the differential case side gear.
9.3. Pull back on the inner axle shaft to ensure that the inner axle shaft is properly retained in the differential case side gear.
10. Install the wheel drive shaft to the inner axle shaft.
11. Fill the differential carrier assembly with axle lubricant. Use the proper fluid.
12. Lower the vehicle.