front pinion shaft removal.

[fourwheelford]

Do I need to drop the entire axle out of the truck in order to remove and replace the pinion bearing and seal? I was told I could just remove the driveshaft and pull it out but that doesn't really make sense to me. iT would be cool if that was the case though My haynes doesn't even talk about it so im at a loss.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

if you're replacing just the seal you can remove the driveshaft and use a puller to remove the pinion flange.

there are 2 pinion bearings and you'd have to remove the ring and pinion to access the inner bearing/race.

can't tell you if you have to remove it or not

 

[fourwheelford]

Ah damn I think the bearing is bad but I cant be completely sure, its leaking at the pinion and the axle shaft seal so those are getting replaced but I really don't want to go ripping into something that I don't know much about. I read somewhere about a collapsable spacer in there somewhere but I just want to replace the seal to keep it from leaking this is a pain.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

Ah damn I think the bearing is bad but I cant be completely sure, its leaking at the pinion and the axle shaft seal so those are getting replaced but I really don't want to go ripping into something that I don't know much about. I read somewhere about a collapsable spacer in there somewhere but I just want to replace the seal to keep it from leaking this is a pain.

to remove the seal.

remove the driveshaft and MARK the position of the nut in relation to the shaft, and the position of the shaft to the yoke/flange.

remove the nut with an impact gun and use a puller to remove the pinion flange/yoke.

at this point you can use a seal puller to remove the old seal. then reassemble.

use the impact gun to tighten the nut JUST past the original mark by about 1/8th turn.

doing it this way you can re-use the crush sleeve spacer and not have to get into the differential

 

[fourwheelford]

Thanks brutus the axle shafts just pull out of the axle housing right? I just have to mark them to make sure they go back the same way?