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The lubricant should be changed for climate changes, such as summer and winter. For the proper lubricant for these various conditions, see recommendations under General Lubrication.
Repair Operations
In rear axle service work there are minor and major operations. Minor operations such as the removal of axle shafts, the replacement of brake drums, etc., can be performed with the axle under the car. Major operations, such as the replacement of ring gears and pinions, the replacement of propeller shaft, etc., must be performed with the axle out of the car, because it is impossible to obtain the correct pinion depth with the third member in the axle housing.
There are also two very important and essential points which
all service men must keep in mind when working on rear axles.
First— absolute
cleanliness must be observed, and second — factory limits
and clearances and specifications must be adhered to.
MINOR SERVICE OPERATIONS To Remove and Replace Rear Wheel
Remove the hub cap by inserting a screwdriver between the inside
edge of the hub cap and the wheel hub flange and turning the screwdriver
until the cap becomes loose. Remove the hub cap and the hub nuts
which are on the inside of the wheel hub. The wheel can now be
lifted from the bolts which are attached to the axle shaft.
To replace the rear wheel, place it over the hub bolts and assemble
the hub nuts with the tapered ends towards the inside of the hub.
The tapered ends of these nuts must fit into the recesses provided
for them in the wheel hub.
Fig. 143— Removing Axle Shaft Spacer
To Remove and Replace Axle Shaft Assembly
Remove the wheel as described above. Drain the oil from the differential
and remove the axle housing cover.
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Remove the differential pinion shaft screw, the differential pinion
shaft and the axle shaft spacer. See Fig. 143.
Push the axle shafts in towards the center of the axle and remove
the "C" washers from the ends of the axle shafts. See
Fig. 144.
Fig. 144— Removing "C" Washers
After this has been done, the axle shafts with the brake drum can
be removed from the axle housing.
Before replacing the axle shafts, examine the leather oil seal
on the inside of the axle housing to be sure that it is not worn,
damaged or out of place. Slide the axle shaft into place, being
careful that
Fig. 145— Checking Clearance Between Axle Shaft
and Spacer
the splines on the end of the shaft do not cut the Lather oil seal
and that they engage with the splines of the differential gears.
Replace the "C" washers on the end of the shaft and pry
the shaft ends apart so that the "C" washers are seated
in the counter-bore in the differential side gears.
Select the proper axle shaft spacer so that there is from a free
fit to .014" clearance between the ends of the axle shafts
and the spacer. See Fig. 145.
