GRIP PRO INSTALLATION MANUAL
5
MAINTENANCE
It is recommended that the axle
lubricant be changed as required by
your vehicle’s service schedule.
Lubrication breakdown can lead to
accelerated wear on all rear axle
components. See
IMPORTANT
LUBRICATION NOTE
on page 3 for oil
and additive requirements.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Raise and safely support vehicle.
2. Remove wheels and brake drums or
brake rotors
3. Drain lubricant from carrier and
remove cover.
4. Remove axle shafts from housing.
If your axles have “C” clips, do the
following:
A. Remove pinion shaft lock
screw and pinion shaft.
B. Push flanged end of axle
shaft toward the center of the
housing and remove the “C” clip
from the button end of the axle shaft.
Repeat for other axle shaft.
C. Remove axle shafts from
housing. Be careful not to damage the
oil seals.
If your axles are non-”C” clip style, do
the following:
A. Remove axle shaft bearing
retaining plate nuts and remove the
retaining plate.
B. Use a slide-hammer to
remove the axle shafts. Be careful not
to damage the oil seals.
Note:
Some axles use shims or
adjuster nuts to set the axle shaft
end play. Refer to the vehicle service
manual for the proper removal and
installation procedures for the axle
shafts.
5. For removable carriers, disconnect
the drive shaft from the pinion yoke
and remove the third member from
the axle housing.
6. Prior to further disassembly,
measure and record the ring and
pinion backlash. Mount an indicator
as shown in
Figure 1
. Hold the drive
pinion stationary and rotate the ring
gear in both directions to measure
the amount of backlash or free play.
Check the backlash at three to four
points around the ring gear and
record for later use.
7. Mark bearing caps “R” and “L”
to make sure that they will be
reassembled in their original position.
8. If equipped with adjuster nuts,
remove adjuster nut locks and loosen
Figure 1
