Special Tools

1. Raise and support vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle.
2. Remove the floor panel tunnel rear panel. Refer to Floor Panel Tunnel Panel Replacement - Rear.
3. Remove the propeller shaft, differential, and driveline support. Refer to Propeller Shaft, Differential, and Driveline Support Replacement.
4. Remove the differential carrier bracket. Refer to Differential Carrier Bracket Replacement



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



8. Install the J 45019 to the flange.
9. Using the J 45019 , remove the flange.
10. 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 appear the pinion seal still leaks.

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 , install the pinion seal to the differential.
3. Remove the J 45019 .



4. Install the J 45012 .
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:
7. Clean all the residue from the pinion shaft threads by using denatured alcohol or equivalent and allow to dry.
8. Clean all the residue from the pinion flange nut by using denatured alcohol or equivalent and allow to dry.

Important: Ensure that there are no gaps in the threadlocker along the length of the filled area of the pinion shaft threads.

9. Apply threadlocker GM P/N 12345382 (Canadian P/N 10953489) or equivalent to 2/3 of the threaded length of the pinion shaft threads.
10. Allow the threadlocker to cure approximately 10 minutes before installation.

Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in the Preface section.

11. 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).

12. Remove the J 45012 .
13. Install the differential carrier bracket. Refer to Differential Carrier Bracket Replacement
14. Install the propeller shaft, differential, and driveline support. Refer to Propeller Shaft, Differential, and Driveline Support Replacement.
15. Install floor panel tunnel rear panel. Refer to Floor Panel Tunnel Panel Replacement - Rear.
16. Inspect the fluid level. Refer to Rear Axle Lubricant Level Inspection.
17. Lower the vehicle.