Important: Group and mark the shims together as orginally removed. If you remove or replace the ring and pinion gearset, perform the bearing preload, backlash, and gear tooth contact pattern check in order to ensure proper contact of the gears. If you reinstall or replace the differential carrier without replacing any other component (i.e. pinion and ring gear set, bearings. etc.) then you may reinstall the carrier with the original shims in their original locations. Always perform a gear tooth contact pattern check, even when you remove only the carrier.

1. Raise the vehicle. Refer to Vehicle Lifting and Jacking in General Information.
2. Remove the tires and wheel assemblies. Refer to Wheel Removal in Tires and Wheels.
3. Remove the brake drums.
4. Remove the rear axle housing cover and the gasket. Refer to Rear Axle Housing Cover and Gasket Replacement.
5. Remove the rear axle shafts. Refer to Axle Shaft Replacement.
6. Remove the bearing caps and bolts. Mark the caps and the housing left and right.

Caution: To prevent personal injury and/or component damage, support the differential case when removing the case from the axle housing. If the case is not supported, the differential case could fall and cause personal injury or damage to the differential case.

Notice: When removing the differential case from the axle housing, do not damage the cover gasket surface. If the cover gasket surface is damaged, lubricant may leak from the axle and cause premature failure of the axle assembly.




7. Pry the case from the axle housing at the differential window.
8. Remove the bearing outer races, the shims, and the spacers.
9. Mark the races and shims left and right and in the proper order. Place the races and the shims with the bearing caps.
10. Remove the differential side bearings (if necessary). Refer to Differential Side Bearings Replacement.
11. Remove the ring gear (if necessary). Refer to Pinion and Ring Gear Replacement.

1. Install the ring gear (if necessary). Refer to Pinion and Ring Gear Replacement.
2. Install the differential side bearings (if necessary). Refer to Differential Side Bearings Replacement.
3. Place the case, with the bearing cups installed, into the axle housing.

3.1.	Lubricate the axle bearings with axle lubricant.

3.2.	Support the case in order to keep the case from falling into the axle housing.

4. Adjust the differential side bearing preload. Refer to Differential Side Bearing Preload Adjustment.
5. Perform a Gear Tooth Contact Pattern Check. Refer to Gear Tooth Contact Pattern Check.
6. Install the axle shafts. Refer to Axle Shaft Replacement.
7. Install the rear axle housing cover and gasket. Refer to Rear Axle Housing Cover and Gasket Replacement.
8. Fill the axle with lubricant. Use the proper fluid. Refer to Approximate Capacities and Recommended Fluids and Lubricants in Maintenance and Lubrication.
9. Lower the vehicle.