Rear Axle

REMOVE OR DISCONNECT
1. Raise and suitably support vehicle.
2. Place a drain pan or suitable container under rear axle housing.





3. Rear axle housing oil level/filler plug from rear axle housing.
4. Rear axle housing drain plug from rear axle housing and drain rear axle housing.
5. Rear tire and wheel assemblies.
6. Rear brake drums from rear axle.
7. Both rear axle shafts from rear axle housing.





Important: To ensure rear propeller shaft balance, an index mark (reference mark) must be placed on the differential pinion flange and the rear propeller shaft flange so that the rear propeller shaft can be installed in the same position from which it was removed. If this procedure is not followed, a driveline imbalance may result causing vibration, premature component wear or other undesirable characteristics.

8. Four bolts, four nuts and rear propeller shaft from vehicle.
9. Loosen both rear control arm through bolts and nuts.
10. Two bolts securing Load Sensing Proportioning Valve (LSPV) spring bracket to upper control arm (if equipped).





11. Four bolts from rear control arm ball joint boss and separate rear control arm ball joint boss from differential carrier.





12. Two bolts and rear wheel speed sensor cover from differential carrier if equipped.
13. Electrical connector from rear wheel speed sensor if equipped.





14. Eight nuts and differential carrier from rear axle housing.

Clean
- Oil and sealant from differential carrier and rear axle housing mating surfaces.

Inspect
- For disassembly and inspection procedures, refer to UNIT REPAIR.

INSTALL OR CONNECT
1. Apply RTV silicone gasket and sealer to the differential carrier mating surface on the rear axle housing.





2. Differential carrier into rear axle housing; secure with eight nuts.
- Tighten differential carrier nuts to 55 Nm (41 ft. lbs.).
3. Electrical connector to rear wheel speed sensor if equipped.
4. Rear wheel speed sensor cover to differential carrier; secure with two bolts if equipped.
- Tighten rear wheel speed sensor cover bolts to 15 Nm (11 ft. lbs.).
5. Rear control arm ball joint boss to differential carrier; secure with four bolts.
- Tighten:
- Rear control arm ball joint boss bolts to 50 Nm (37 ft. lbs.).
- Rear control arm through bolts and nuts to 90 Nm (66 ft. lbs.).
6. LSVP load sensing spring bracket to upper control arm; securing with two bolts (if equipped).
- Tighten load sensing spring bracket bolts to 18 to 25 Nm (13.5 to 20.0 ft. lbs.).

Important: Use the index (reference) marks made in the removal procedure to ensure correct rear propeller shaft installation.
7. Rear propeller shaft into vehicle; secure with four nuts and bolts.
- Tighten rear propeller shaft nuts and bolts to 50 Nm (37 ft. lbs.).
8. Both rear axle shafts into rear axle housing.
9. Rear brake drums to rear axle.
10. Rear tire and wheel assemblies.





11. Apply GM P/N 12346004, or equivalent, to the threaded portion of the rear axle housing drain plug.
12. Rear axle housing drain plug into rear axle housing.
- Tighten rear axle housing drain plug to 25 Nm (18 ft. lbs.).
13. Refill the rear axle housing with approximately 2.2 liters (4.6 pts.)of 80W-90 GL5 lubricant, or equivalent. Oil level should be even with the bottom of the rear axle housing oil level/filler plug hole.
14. Rear axle housing oil level/filler plug into the rear axle housing.
- Tighten rear axle housing oil level/filler plug to 43 Nm (32 ft. lbs.).
15. Remove drain pan from under rear axle housing.
16. Lower vehicle.