Drive Pinion and Ring Gear Replacement 10.5 Inch Axle

1. Raise the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle.
2. Remove the differential case assembly. Refer to Differential Replacement.
3. Remove the drive pinion housing assembly. Refer to Drive Pinion Housing and/or Seal Replacement.



4. Remove and discard the gear bolts. Replace with NEW only.

Caution: Refer to Ring Gear Removal Caution in the Preface section.




5. Using a brass drift and a hammer, remove the ring gear from the differential case.

1. If the differential case has become separated, assemble the differential case by aligning the two arrows inside the differential case.

Note: The mating surface of the ring gear and the differential case must be clean and free of burrs before installing the ring gear.

2. Install the ring gear to the differential case.




Note: Use hand tools ONLY. DO NOT use power tools for the following procedure.

3. Hand tighten the new ring gear bolts.

Caution: Refer to Fastener Caution in the Preface section.

4. Install the NEW ring gear bolts and tighten to 120 N·m (89 lb ft). in a criss cross pattern to draw and seat the ring gear and the on the differential case.
5. Install the drive pinion housing assembly. Refer to Drive Pinion Housing and/or Seal Replacement.
6. Install the differential assembly. Refer to Differential Replacement.
7. Fill the axle with the proper lubricant. Refer to Rear Axle Lubricant Replacement.
8. Remove the support and lower the vehicle.

Drive Pinion and Ring Gear Replacement 8.6, 9.5/9.5 LD, and 11.5 Inch Axles

1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle.
2. Remove the differential case assembly. Refer to Differential Replacement.
3. Remove the differential pinion yoke and the oil seal. Refer to Drive Pinion Flange/Yoke and/or Oil Seal Replacement.




Note: 

•	Ensure that the J 22536 remover and the J44421 remover are firmly seated on the differential pinion gear.

•	When removing the differential pinion gear, DO NOT let the differential pinion gear fall out of the axle housing.

4. Using the J 22536 remover or the J44421 remover and a hammer, remove the differential pinion gear from the axle housing.



5. Remove and discard the collapsible spacer from the pinion.
6. Remove the differential pinion bearings and the cups. Refer to Drive Pinion Bearings Replacement.

Note: The differential ring gear bolts on the 8.6 inch and the 9.5/9.5LD inch axles have left-hand threads. The differential ring gear bolts on the 11.5 inch axle have right-hand threads.

7. Remove and discard the differential gear bolts. Replace with NEW only.

Caution: Refer to Ring Gear Removal Caution in the Preface section.

Note: It maybe necessary to use a brass drift and a hammer to remove the differential ring gear from the differential case.

8. Remove the differential ring gear from the differential case.

Note: The mating surface of the ring gear and the differential case must be clean and free of burrs before installing the ring gear.

1. Install the differential ring gear to the differential case.

Caution: Refer to Fastener Caution in the Preface section.





Note: 

•	The ring gear bolts on the 8.6 inch and the 9.5/9.5LD inch axles have left-hand threads. The ring gear bolts on the 11.5 inch axle have right-hand threads.

•	Hand start each bolt to ensure that the ring gear is properly installed to the differential case.

•	Tighten the differential ring gear bolts alternately and in stages, gradually pulling the ring gear onto the differential case.

2. Install the NEW differential ring gear bolts and tighten in sequence to 120 N·m (89 lb ft). for the 8.6 inch axle, 140 N·m (103 lb ft) for the 9.5/9.5LD inch axles and 237 N·m (175 lb ft). for the 11.5 inch axle
3. Install the pinion bearing cups. Refer to Drive Pinion Bearings Replacement.
4. Determine and install the selective shim thickness for the pinion gear. Refer to Pinion Depth Adjustment.
5. Install the inner pinion bearing to the pinion. Refer to Drive Pinion Bearings Replacement.
6. Install a new collapsible spacer.
7. Lubricate the pinion bearings with axle lubricant. Refer to Fluid and Lubricant Recommendations.
8. Install the outer differential pinion bearing, the NEW differential pinion oil seal and the differential yoke into the axle housing. Refer to Drive Pinion Flange/Yoke and/or Oil Seal Replacement
9. Install the differential case assembly. Refer to Differential Replacement.
10. Fill the axle with lubricant. Use the proper fluid. Refer to Rear Axle Lubricant Replacement.
11. Remove the support and lower the vehicle.