Tools Required

1. Raise and support vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
2. If vehicle is equipped with dual exhaust, remove the exhaust system. Refer to Exhaust System Replacement in Engine Exhaust.

Important: Remove only the propeller shaft coupler-to-differential flange bolts. Do NOT remove the coupler from the propeller shaft.

3. Remove the propeller shaft coupler-to-differential flange bolts and nuts.



4. Push the rear propeller shaft toward the front of the vehicle in order to release the propeller shaft coupler from the differential pinion flange.
5. Position the propeller shaft out of the way.



6. Install the J 45012 to the drive pinion flange.
7. While holding the J 45012 , remove the drive pinion nut using J 34826 .
8. Remove J 45012 from the drive pinion flange.



9. Install the J 45019 to the drive pinion flange.
10. Using J 45019 , remove the drive pinion flange.
11. Using a flat-bladed tool, remove the drive pinion seal. Take care not to damage any sealing surfaces.

Important: Ensure the pinion bore is free of excess gear oil. Excessive fluid can get trapped behind the new seal's dust shield. The trapped gear oil can get squeezed out when installing the pinion flange and give the illusion of a continued leak.

1. Lubricate the drive pinion flange sealing surface of the drive pinion seal with synthetic gear oil GM P/N 12378514 (Canadian P/N 88901045) or equivalent.



2. Using J 42851 , install the new drive pinion seal to the differential.
3. Remove the J 45019 from the drive pinion flange.



4. Install the J 45012 to the drive pinion flange.
5. Install the pinion flange to the drive pinion shaft.

Important: The pinion shaft threads and the pinion flange nut must be free of residue and debris prior to application of threadlocker in order to ensure proper adhesion and fastener retention.

6. Prepare the pinion shaft threads and the pinion flange nut for assembly:

6.1.	Thoroughly clean the residue from the pinion shaft threads by using denatured alcohol or equivalent and allow to dry.

6.2.	Thoroughly clean the residue from the pinion flange nut by using denatured alcohol or equivalent and allow to dry.

7. Apply threadlocker GM P/N 12345382 (Canadian P/N 10953489) or equivalent to two-thirds of the threaded length of the pinion shaft threads. Ensure that there are no gaps in the threadlocker along the length of the filled area of the pinion shaft threads.
8. Allow the threadlocker to cure approximately 10 minutes before installation.

Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in the Preface section.

9. Install the drive pinion flange nut to the pinion shaft.

While holding the J 45012 use J 34826 to tighten the drive pinion nut.

Tighten
Tighten the pinion flange nut to 245 N·m (181 lb ft).

10. Remove the J 45012 from the pinion flange.

Important: The propeller shaft flange bolts must be installed toward the flanges. There are arrow on the coupler pointing toward the flange as a reference.

11. Install the propeller shaft coupler-to-differential flange bolts and nuts.

Tighten
Tighten the propeller shaft coupler-to-differential flange bolts to 85 N·m (63 lb ft).

12. Inspect the fluid level. Refer to Rear Axle Lubricant Level Inspection.
13. Lower the vehicle.
14. If vehicle is equipped with dual exhaust. install the exhaust system. Refer to Exhaust System Replacement in Engine Exhaust.