Rear Drive Axle

Drive Pinion and Ring Gear Replacement

Special Tools

J 22536 - Pinion Driver

Removal Procedure

1. Raise the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle (Service and Repair).
2. Remove the differential assembly. Refer to Differential Replacement (Differential Replacement).
3. Remove the pinion yoke and the oil seal. Refer to Drive Pinion Flange/Yoke and/or Oil Seal Replacement (Rear Drive Axle).





Note: Do not let the pinion fall out of the rear axle housing.

4. Using the J 22536 - driver and a hammer, remove the pinion.




5. Remove and discard the collapsible spacer from the pinion.
6. Remove the pinion bearings and the cups. Refer to Differential Drive Pinion Gear Bearing Replacement (Rear Drive Axle).

Note: The ring gear bolts have left-hand threads.

7. Remove the gear bolts. Discard the bolts.

Caution: Refer to Ring Gear Removal Caution (Ring Gear Removal Caution).

8. Remove the ring gear from the differential. Drive the gear off with a brass drift if necessary.

Installation Procedure

Note: The mating surface of the ring gear and the differential case must be clean and free of burrs before installing the ring gear.




1. Install the ring gear to the differential case.





Note: The ring gear bolts have left-hand threads.

2. Install the new ring gear bolts.
Hand start each bolt to ensure that the ring gear is properly installed to the differential case.

Caution: Refer to Fastener Caution (Fastener Caution).

Note: Tightening the ring gear in sequence will seat the ring equally on the differential case.

3. Tighten the ring gear bolts in sequence to 130 Nm (96 lb ft)..
4. Install the pinion bearing cups. Refer to Differential Drive Pinion Gear Bearing Replacement (Rear Drive Axle).
5. Determine the selective shim thickness for the pinion gear. Refer to Pinion Depth Adjustment (Pinion Depth Adjustment).
6. Install the selective shim onto the pinion.
7. Install the inner pinion bearing to the pinion. Refer to Differential Drive Pinion Gear Bearing Replacement (Rear Drive Axle).
8. Install a new collapsible spacer.
9. Lubricate the pinion bearings with axle lubricant. Refer to Fluid and Lubricant Recommendations (USA and Canada) (Maintenance).
10. Install the outer pinion bearing into the axle housing.
11. Install the new pinion oil seal. Refer to Drive Pinion Flange/Yoke and/or Oil Seal Replacement (Rear Drive Axle).
12. Install the pinion into the axle housing.
13. Install the pinion yoke. Refer to Drive Pinion Flange/Yoke and/or Oil Seal Replacement (Rear Drive Axle).
14. Install the differential assembly. Refer to Differential Replacement (Differential Replacement).
15. Fill the axle with lubricant. Use the proper fluid. Refer to Differential Oil Replacement (Rear Drive Axle).
16. Lower the vehicle.