Differentials & Axle Shafts - Tracker: Removal & Installation Chevrolet Tracker II

Removal

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel assembly. Remove brake caliper, and wire aside. DO NOT disconnect lines from brake calipers. Remove cap from hub. Remove 6 bolts and bearing cover. Remove 4 screws and seal lock washer retainer.
2. Use Lock Nut Remover (J-37763) to remove front wheel bearing lock nut. Use Adapter (J-37781 and slide hammer to remove hub, with bearings and seals. Remove washer and outer wheel bearings from hub.
3. If vehicle has ABS, mount hub in vise and pry wheel speed sensor ring from hub. Remove 2 inner bearing seals from hub. Remove bearing snap ring from hub. Remove wheel bearing.

Installation

If equipped with ABS, press ABS reluctor ring onto hub using Installer (J 39245). Pack wheel bearings with grease. To complete installation, reverse removal procedure. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove front skid plate (if equipped). Remove front wheels. Remove 6 bolts and flange. Remove drive axle shaft snap ring. Remove the drive axle shaft spindle washer from drive axle shaft.
2. Use a hydraulic jack in order to support the front control arm. Remove nuts and bolts from control arm. Separate steering knuckle and lower ball joint from control arm. Slowly lower hydraulic jack in order to relieve pressure in coil spring. Remove wheel-side joint of drive axle and drive axle shaft from steering knuckle.
3. Make a reference mark on inner axle shaft and differential side joint flange of drive axle. To ensure correct installation. Remove nuts and bolts from inner axle shaft flange. Remove the drive shaft axle assembly using Axle Shaft Remover (J-37780).
4. Remove drive axle shaft thrust washer. Remove drive axle shaft oil seal and set assembly aside. Make a reference mark on inner drive axle flange and differential side joint flange of axle shaft. Remove nuts and bolts from inner axle shaft flange.

1. Install axle shaft boot band. Install oil seal onto axle shaft. Install axle shaft assembly. Install differential side joint flange axle shaft onto inner axle shaft flange. Be sure to align reference marks on inner axle shaft flange and differential side joint flange of axle shaft. Tighten differential side joint bolts and nuts. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-98435-S23204296952001052300000) .
2. Install wheel-side joint of front drive axle shaft into steering knuckle. Use hydraulic jack in order to support front control arm. Install steering knuckle and lower ball joint onto front control arm. Tighten ball joint nut to specification. Remove hydraulic jack.
3. Install spindle washer onto axle shaft. Install snap ring onto end of axle shaft. Apply Sealant (1052366) or equivalent to flange. Install flange, and tighten bolts to specification. Install front skid plate, and tighten bolts to specification. Install front tire and wheel assembly. Tighten all fasteners to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-98435-S23204296952001052300000) .

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove 4 skid plate bolts and front skid plate. Remove front tire and assembly. Remove 6 bolts and flange. Remove drive axle shaft snap ring. Remove drive axle shaft spindle washer from drive axle shaft.
2. Slowly lower hydraulic jack in order to relieve pressure in coil spring. Remove axle shaft thrust washer. Remove axle shaft oil seal, and set assembly aside. Remove snap ring on spline. Remove right axle shaft.

1. Install axle shaft into differential housing. Install snap ring onto spline. Install axle shaft spindle washer onto axle shaft. Install snap ring onto end of axle shaft.
2. Apply Sealant (1052366) or equivalent to flange. Install flange, and secure 6 bolts. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-98435-S23204296952001052300000) . Install front tire wheel assembly and go to other side of vehicle.

1. Raise and support vehicle. Drain front differential housing oil. Drain transfer oil. Remove right front wheel. Remove right side ABS sensor. Remove right side outer tie rod lock nut. Separate right outer tie rod from steering knuckle using Universal Steering Linkage Remover (J-24319-b). Remove left front axle. See «FRONT AXLE SHAFT (LEFT)»(ref-98435-S15715825032001052300000) . Remove drive shaft. See DRIVE SHAFTS & UNIVERSAL JOINTS - TRUCKS article. Using Axle Shaft Remover (J-37780) remove right axle shaft from front differential housing
2. Remove left-side axle shaft flange bolts, and position axle shaft aside. Disconnect vent hoses. Remove front differential rear mounts nuts and bolts. Remove mount. Support front differential for removal. Remove front differential-to-right side mount bolts. Remove front differential-to-left side mount bolts. Lower front differential with assistants. Remove left-side output shaft axle from differential housing.

1. Raise front differential housing with assistants and support with a suitable hydraulic jack. Install front differential mount onto left mounting bolts. Install front differential onto right mounting bolts. Remove hydraulic jack from supporting front differential. Install front differential rear mount and nuts and bolts. Install left front axles and right front axle. Connect vent hoses.
2. Install front drive shaft. Install front skid plate bolts. Install washer and right front axle snap ring. Install right wheel. Fill transfer case and tighten transfer case fill plug. Fill front differential housing and tighten differential fill plug. See «DIFFERENTIAL CAPACITIES»(ref-98435-S14101666902001052300000) table. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-98435-S23204296952001052300000) .

Removal & Installation

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove 4 bolts and front skid plate from vehicle if it is equipped. Drain gear oil. Mark front drive shaft position for installation reference. Remove front drive shaft. Remove right and left front axle shafts. See «FRONT AXLE SHAFTS»(ref-98435-S15715825032001052300000) .
2. Remove 6 differential carrier bolts and 2 reamer bolts from front axle housing. Clean differential carrier and front axle housing mating surfaces. To install, reverse removal procedure. Apply sealant onto differential carrier and axle housing mating surfaces. Align marks made on drive shaft during removal procedure. Tighten all nuts and bolts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-98435-S23204296952001052300000) . Fill differential. See «DIFFERENTIAL CAPACITIES»(ref-98435-S14101666902001052300000) table.

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheels. Remove rear brake drums. Drain gear oil. Remove rear wheel bearing retaining nuts from axle housing. If vehicle has ABS, disconnect wheel speed sensor. Remove brake shoe return spring. Ensure there is clearance between bearing retainer and parking brake shoe lever. Using an axle shaft puller with slide hammer, remove axle shaft.
2. Using a grinder, flatten 2 sides of bearing retainer ring. Remove bearing retainer ring from axle shaft using a cold chisel and hammer. If equipped with ABS, remove ABS reluctor wheel. Using a press, remove wheel bearing from axle shaft. Remove axle shaft inner oil seal from differential axle housing.
3. To install, reverse removal procedure. Using seal installer, install NEW inner oil seal. Apply wheel bearing grease onto inner oil seal lip. Apply sealant onto mating surface of wheel bearing retainer and brake backing plate. Tighten wheel bearing retaining nuts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-98435-S23204296952001052300000) . Fill differential. See «DIFFERENTIAL CAPACITIES»(ref-98435-S14101666902001052300000) table.

1. Raise and support vehicle. Drain gear oil. Remove wheels and brake drums. Disconnect brakelines from wheel cylinders. Remove rear axle shafts. See «REAR AXLE & BEARING»(ref-98435-S12269387422001052300000) . Separate both of brake backing plates from rear axle housing.
2. Disconnect metal brakeline from flexible hose and "E" clip. Remove brakelines from axle housing. Remove breather hose from axle housing. Mark rear drive shaft for reinstallation reference. Remove rear drive shaft. Loosen both rear control arm through bolts and nut. Loosen rear axle tie rod through bolt and nut.
3. Support center of rear axle housing. Remove ball joint bracket from differential carrier. Disconnect wheel speed sensor (if equipped). If vehicle does not have ABS, remove load sensing proportioning valve from rear axle. Remove nuts and differential carrier from axle housing. Remove nut and washer from rear axle tie rod at rear axle housing.
4. Remove shock absorber lower mount bolts. Lower differential housing until suspension coil spring tension is relieved. Separate lower and upper control arms from rear axle housing. Remove coil springs. Lower rear axle housing. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten all nuts and bolts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-98435-S23204296952001052300000) . Fill differential. See «DIFFERENTIAL CAPACITIES»(ref-98435-S14101666902001052300000) table.

1. Raise and support vehicle. Drain gear oil. Mark rear drive shaft position for installation reference. Remove rear drive shaft. Remove tire and wheel assemblies.
2. Remove rear brake drums from rear axle. Remove right and left rear axle shafts. See «REAR AXLE & BEARING»(ref-98435-S12269387422001052300000) . Remove 8 nuts and differential carrier. Remove rear axle housing. Clean oil and sealant from mating surfaces.
3. To install, reverse removal procedure. Apply sealant onto differential carrier and axle housing mating surfaces. Align marks made on drive shaft during removal procedure. Tighten all nuts and bolts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-98435-S23204296952001052300000) . Fill differential. See «DIFFERENTIAL CAPACITIES»(ref-98435-S14101666902001052300000) table.

For axle shaft overhaul information, see AXLE SHAFTS under REMOVAL, DISASSEMBLY, REASSEMBLY & INSTALLATION in AXLE SHAFTS - FRONT - TRACKER article.