front differential and axle tube removal

[Sy Guy 0024]

Would someone please walk me through the process leading up to removal of the front differential? What is the order of removing/unbolting parts prior to taking the diff out? Does the passenger side half shaft have to be removed prior to taking off the axle tube? I've seen TurboTony's explanation as to how to slip the diff out, but can find nothing on the process leading up to that.

I'm also having trouble removing the two nuts that hold the front axle tube in place. The bolts that they thread onto keep spinning, and I can't seem to get a wrench to the bolt head :evil: Any suggestions here?

Corbin

 

[ParTyBoy]

Re: front differential and axle tube removal

Would someone please walk me through the process leading up to removal of the front differential? What is the order of removing/unbolting parts prior to taking the diff out? Does the passenger side half shaft have to be removed prior to taking off the axle tube? I've seen TurboTony's explanation as to how to slip the diff out, but can find nothing on the process leading up to that.

I'm also having trouble removing the two nuts that hold the front axle tube in place. The bolts that they thread onto keep spinning, and I can't seem to get a wrench to the bolt head :evil: Any suggestions here?

Corbin

When in doubt ask Tony.... best advice I could give

 

[Lynn D. Brown]

Front Diff and Axles

Front Diff and Axles

Corbin,

I'm no expert, but I am in the middle of a complete rebuild now,
and have my inner axles out. I will not be removing the outer
axles at the wheels.

One of the things U need to do is to unbolt the outer ends of the
front axles 1st. Then unbolt the lower end of the shock adborber
and move it aside. Then U can bend the CV end of the front axles
at the wheels forward to make room to pull the two axlees out.

Not sure what U R talking about on the bolts w nuts on them. All
the bolts that I removed screwed into threaded holes - no nuts
involved. Hope this helps.

 

[Sy Guy 0024]

Lynn,
Thanks for the tip. Got the pass side out fine this way (although i did have to unbolt the outer tie rod from the spindle). Tried driver's side, but the flange won't clear the tie rod/center link. Maybe it would work if the truck wasn't supported by the front control arms? This might provide some clearance btwn the control arm and tie rod.

Next question: How in the hell do you access the top differential support bolt? I can get a wrench on the bolt head, but the nut is in the frame. There's a little hole in the bottom of the frame, but not nearly big enough to get a wrench in there. Do you have to enlarge this hole? Damn, this is a pain in the ass. I thought working on these trucks was supposed to be easy :roll:

Corbin

 

[TurboTony]

Hey man,

Got your PM the other day, finally got a spare sec to respond.

Leave the truck supported by the lower control arms, that spreads the arms slightly and will make getting the diff in and out easier.

You should be able to get a wrench into the frame to hold the bolt, but likley only the box end.

I also unbolted the idler arm and seperated the pitman arm from the centerlink. That allows you to move the centerlink forward enough to drop the upper mount down.

It is possible to remove and install the diff as one unit, but it would be easier to remove the r/h tube. Have a friend help you, they are remarkably heavy for their size.

HTH

Tony

 

[Lynn D. Brown]

Front Diff. and Axles

Front Diff. and Axles

Corbin & Tony,

I haven't removed the diff suspension bolts yet, but the upper
bolts do look tight to get at. I have all the steering linkage out
and am replacing w Napa and a ZQ8 box, so I have some room
to work.

I am going to pull apart the front diff to check it out. Someone
metioned earlier about drilling a drain hole in the case and tapping
for a drain plug. Was that U, Tony ? Sounds like a good idea, altho'
I sure hope I don't screw it up - that would be an expensive mistake.
Maybe have a machine shop do it ?

Whoever said that these trucks were easy to work was surely
joking. I haven't seen any vehicle more difficult to work on. One
thing to remember is to use that special Locktite gasket maker
when U bolt the axles back to the differential. I think Locktite was
bought out, so it may be a different name (Permatex ?) The book
said Locktite 514, 518 or something like that, which I couldn't find
anywhere. W ith the help of Napa, I ended up w Permatex 765-1189
Anaerobic Gasket Maker.

 

[Sy Guy 0024]

Thanks to Tony and Lynn for the tips. Apparently, the only tool that will fit through the hole in the frame is the 18mm box end wrench (which I don't have-gotta get one tomorrow). I went ahead and took off the entire steering linkage. Anyone think I should go ahead and replace the outer/inner tie rods while I've got it apart? They've got about 70k on them. I'm not really sure how you tell if they're shot? I guess the ends would be loose? They're still pretty tight, but I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea now that everything's out. Then again, "if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it". Might even get a wild hair up my ass and put on the ATR headers that came with my truck. Looks like there's plenty of room to access the x-over pipe bolts with all that steering linkage out.....hmmm.

 

[Lynn D. Brown]

Front End & Diff.

Front End & Diff.

Corbin,

In general, the stock GM steering linkage, unlike most GM
parts, is junk. If U had any looseness, and all of my GM's always
did, I would replace w Moog or Napa - lifetime warranty. It has
always tightened up my front end noticeably, and that is
important to me.

 

[Sy Guy 0024]

Well, I finally got the front differential out from the truck. My next question is how do you remove the driver side axle from the diff? I pulled the passenger side off with ease, but the driver side must be held in with a retaining clip? How do I get to it? Thanks guys.

 

[Sy Guy 0024]

Anybody know how to remove the driver's side mini-axle from the differential? Lynn? Turbo Tony? Where are you guys? You don't have something better to do on your weekends than sitting around answering e-questions, do you? :lol:

 

[jwaller]

you do it the same way...just pull on it. it has a clip that holds it in place. but the only way to get it out is to pull on it. or use a pry bar between the case and stub axle

 

[Sy Guy 0024]

jwaller,
you're right. just gotta put some muscle into it and it pops right out. guess i was being a girlie-man with it

 

[nomoty]

I just can't believe you took all that off. I never even took the tires off mine when i changed it out. Unbolted inner cv joints took the other what 5 or 6 bolts out did a little twisting and turning an voila it came out. When we put it back in the only thing we did diff was remove the power steering bolts and it went right back in no problems! To get to that bolt in the frame i went to autozone got a 19mm wrench and put all of them next to each other and got the one with the smallest head then i broke it in half and it worked great! Good luck i know how you feel!