Drive Pinion Flange/Yoke and/or Oil Seal Replacement V6 Engine

Special Tools

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




Note: Remove only the propeller shaft coupler-to-differential flange bolts (6). Do NOT remove the coupler from the propeller shaft.

3. Remove the propeller shaft. Refer to Rear Propeller Shaft Replacement.



4. Install the J 45012 to the flange.
5. While holding the J 45012 , remove the drive pinion nut, using J 34826 .
6. Remove the J 45012 .



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

Note: Ensure the pinion bore is free of excess gear oil. Excessive fluid can get trapped behind the new seals 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 the J 42851 (1) , install the pinion seal (2) to the differential housing (3).
3. Remove the J 45019 .



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

Note: The pinion shaft threads and the pinion flange nut must be free of residue and debris prior to application of threadlocker.

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

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

7. Apply threadlocker GM P/N 12345382 (Canadian P/N 10953489), or equivalent to 2/3 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.

Caution: Refer to Fastener Caution 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 flange nut to 245 N·m (181 lb ft).
10. Remove the J 45012 .
11. Install the propeller shaft. Refer to Rear Propeller Shaft Replacement.
12. Inspect the fluid level. Refer to Rear Axle Lubricant Level Inspection.
13. If vehicle is equipped with dual exhaust, install the exhaust system. Refer to Exhaust System Replacement.
14. Lower the vehicle.

Drive Pinion Flange/Yoke and/or Oil Seal Replacement V8 Engine

Special Tools

1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle.
2. Remove the exhaust system. Refer to Exhaust System Replacement.
3. Reference mark the propeller shaft constant velocity (CV) joint to the drive pinion flange.

Caution: The propeller shaft must be supported during removal and/or installation so that the CV joint does not articulate more than 8 degrees. Allowing the propeller shaft to articulate greater than 8 degrees could cause damage to the CV boot. Damage to boot could lead to contamination or loss of lubrication which could lead to CV joint damage.

4. Remove the propeller shaft CV joint-to-drive pinion flange bolts.
5. Push the propeller shaft toward the front of the vehicle to release the propeller shaft from the drive pinion flange.
6. Position the propeller shaft aside and support with heavy mechanics wire or equivalent.



7. Install the J 45012 to the drive pinion flange.

Position the lower bolt (1) behind and outside of the J 45012 .

8. While holding the J 45012 , remove the drive pinion nut using the J 34826 .
9. Remove J 45012 from the drive pinion flange.



10. Using the J 45019 , remove the drive pinion flange.
11. Remove the J 45019 from the drive pinion flange.
12. Using a flat-bladed tool, remove the drive pinion seal.

Do not damage the sealing surfaces of the pinion shaft or differential pinion housing.

Note: Ensure the pinion bore is free of dirt and debris.

1. Apply a small amount of synthetic gear oil GM P/N 12378514 (Canadian P/N 88901045) or equivalent to the surface of the drive pinion seal and the drive flange.



2. Using the J 42851  (1) , install the drive pinion seal (2) to the differential housing (3).
3. Position the drive pinion flange to the pinion shaft.

Note: The pinion shaft threads and the drive pinion flange nut must be free of residue and debris prior to application of threadlocker.

4. Prepare the pinion shaft threads and the drive pinion flange nut for assembly.

Thoroughly clean the residue from the pinion shaft and the drive pinion flange nut threads using denatured alcohol or equivalent and allow to dry.

5. Apply threadlocker GM P/N 12345382 (Canadian P/N 10953489) or equivalent to 2/3 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.
6. Allow the threadlocker to cure approximately 10 minutes before installation.



7. Install the J 45012 to the drive pinion flange.

Position the lower bolt (1) ahead and outside of the J 45012 .

Caution: Refer to Fastener Caution in the Preface section.

8. While holding the J 45012 , install the drive pinion nut using the J 34826 and tighten to 245 N·m (181 lb ft).
9. Remove the J 45012 from the drive pinion flange.
10. Push the propeller shaft toward the front of the vehicle and position the propeller shaft CV joint to the drive pinion flange.

Align the reference mark on the propeller shaft CV joint and the drive pinion flange.

Note: The propeller shaft CV joint-to-drive pinion flange bolts and the drive pinion flange threaded holes must be free of residue and debris prior to application of threadlocker in order to ensure proper adhesion and fastener retention.

11. Prepare the propeller shaft CV joint-to-drive pinion flange bolts and the drive pinion flange threaded holes for assembly:

11.1.

Thoroughly clean the residue from the threads of the CV joint-to-drive pinion flange bolts using denatured alcohol or equivalent and allow to dry.

11.2.

Thoroughly clean the residue from the drive pinion flange threaded holes using denatured alcohol or equivalent and allow to dry.

12. Apply threadlocker GM P/N 12345493 (Canadian P/N 10953488) or equivalent to 2/3 of the threaded length of the CV joint-to-drive pinion flange bolt threads. Ensure that there are no gaps in the threadlocker along the length of the filled area of the bolt threads.



13. Install the propeller shaft CV joint-to-drive pinion flange bolts and tighten in sequence (1-6) to 60 N·m (44 lb ft).
14. Inspect the rear drive axle lubricant level. Refer to Rear Axle Lubricant Level Inspection.
15. Install the exhaust system. Refer to Exhaust System Replacement.
16. Lower the vehicle.