Front Axle Housing

REMOVE OR DISCONNECT
^ Tools Required:
- J 29369- 1 Axle Bearing Remover
- J 23907 Slide Hammer.

1. Raise and suitably support vehicle.
2. Four bolts and front skid plate from vehicle (if equipped).
3. Place a drain pan or suitable container under front axle housing.





4. Front axle housing oil level/filler plug from front axle housing.
5. Front axle housing drain plug from front axle housing and drain front axle oil.
6. Right drive axle shaft from vehicle.
7. Right drive axle shaft oil seal from front axle housing.
8. Left drive axle shaft from vehicle.
9. Left inner axle shaft, oil seal and bearing from front axle housing.

Important: To ensure front propeller shaft balance, an index mark (reference mark) must be placed on the pinion flange and the pinion flange yoke so that the front 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.





10. Four bolts, four nuts and front propeller shaft from vehicle.





11. Two bolts and two nuts from front axle housing center mount bracket at engine crossmember.
12. Remove drain pan from under front axle housing.
13. Support front axle housing with a hydraulic jack.
14. One clamp and front axle breather hose from front axle housing.
15. Plastic breather hose connector from front axle housing.
16. Three bolts from front axle housing right mount bracket.





17. Four bolts from front axle housing left mount bracket.
18. Lower hydraulic jack and front axle housing.
19. Eight bolts and differential carrier from front axle housing.

Clean
- Front axle housing with solvent thoroughly and dry.

Inspect
- Front axle housing for cracked or damaged seal or bearing surfaces. Replace as necessary.

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





2. Differential carrier into the front axle housing secure with eight differential carrier bolts.
- Tighten differential carrier bolts to 23 Nm (17 ft. lbs.).
3. Raise front axle housing into position using a suitable hydraulic jack.
4. Four bolts into front axle housing left mount bracket.
- Tighten front axle housing left mount bracket bolts to 50 Nm (37 ft. lbs.).
5. Three bolts into front axle housing right mount bracket.
- Tighten front axle housing right mount bracket bolts to 50 Nm (37 ft. lbs.).
6. Plastic breather hose connector into front axle housing.
7. Front axle breather hose into front axle housing; secure with one clamp.
8. Remove hydraulic jack from under front axle housing.
9. Two bolts and two nuts into front axle housing mounting center mount bracket at engine crossmember.
- Tighten front axle housing center mount bracket bolts and nuts to 50 Nm (37 ft. lbs.).





10. Front propeller shaft into vehicle aligning index marks made during removal; secure with four bolts and four nuts.
- Tighten front propeller shaft bolts and nuts to 55 Nm (41 ft. lbs.).
11. Left inner axle shaft bearing, left inner axle shaft oil seal and left inner axle shaft into front axle housing.
12. Left drive axle shaft into vehicle.
13. Right drive axle shaft oil seal into front axle housing.
14. Right drive axle shaft into vehicle.
15. Front axle housing drain plug into front axle housing.
- Tighten front axle housing drain plug to 23 Nm (17 ft. lbs.).
16. Refill front axle housing with approximately 1 liter (1.8 pts.) of 80W-90 GL5 lubricant.
17. Front axle housing oil level/filler plug into front axle housing.
- Tighten front axle housing oil level/filler plug to 40 Nm (30 ft. lbs.).
18. Front skid plate to vehicle; secure with four bolts (if equipped).
- Tighten front skid plate bolts to 54 Nm (40 ft. lbs.).
19. Lower vehicle.