Axle Shaft Assembly: Service and Repair

Removal





1. Disconnect the battery ground lead
2. Support the vehicle at the rear & remove the appropriate rear road wheel
3. Remove & discard the hub nut, apply the brakes to prevent rotation
4. Remove the brake caliper, but do not disconnect the hydraulics





5. Prepare the hub carrier
'Match mark the hub carrier fulcrum bolt head and the carrier





6. Prepare the hub carrier
Slacken the hub carrier fulcrum nut
Disconnect the ABS sensor multiplug at the hub carrier





7. Protect the driveshaft thread with special tool JD 1D/7





8. Withdraw the hub from the axle shaft

CAUTION: Take care not to introduce debris Into the hub bearings, or damage the seal

Using service tool 204-011, push the axle shaft through the hub





9. NOTE: In the wheel-free condition, the axle is in tension & the flanges will separate as the nuts are withdrawn

Release the axle shaft
Remove & discard the (4) nuts axle shaft to differential output shaft
Clear the axle shaft from the output flange studs
Remove & keep safe the camber shim

10. NOTE: The axle shaft nuts may damage the studs upon removal; check the thread condition by engaging a new nut 2 or 3 threads by hand.

Inspect the output flange studs & renew if there is evidence of damage / distortion
11. Clean all traces of thread locking agent from the hub splines (& axle shaft if it is to be re-used)

Installation





1. Installation is the reverse of the removal procedure, noting the following
2. Secure the axle shaft
Apply thread locking agent, to the SPLINE, as indicated
Refer to the illustration - do NOT re-use the original nut