Jeep Cherokee

 Service Manual

Differential and driveline » 8 1/4 Rear axle » Removal and installation
Axle shaft

REMOVAL

(1) Raise and support vehicle. Ensure that the transmission is in neutral.

(2) Remove wheel and tire assembly.

(3) Remove brake drum. Refer to Group 5, Brakes, for proper procedure.

(4) Clean all foreign material from housing cover area.

(5) Loosen housing cover bolts. Drain lubricant from the housing and axle tubes. Remove housing cover.

(6) Rotate differential case so that pinion mate shaft lock screw is accessible. Remove lock screw and pinion mate shaft from differential case (Fig. 8).

Fig. 8 Pinion Mate Shaft Lock Screw

1 - LOCK SCREW
2 - PINION MATE SHAFT

(7) Push axle shaft inward and remove axle shaft C-lock from the axle shaft (Fig. 9).

(8) Remove axle shaft. Use care to prevent damage to axle shaft bearing and seal, which will remain in axle tube.

(9) Inspect axle shaft seal for leakage or damage.

(10) Inspect roller bearing contact surface on axle shaft for signs of brinelling, galling and pitting. If any of these conditions exist, the axle shaft and/or bearing and seal must be replaced.

INSTALLATION

(1) Lubricate bearing bore and seal lip with gear lubricant. Insert axle shaft through seal, bearing, and engage it into side gear splines.

NOTE: Use care to prevent shaft splines from damaging axle shaft seal lip.

Fig. 9 Axle Shaft C-Lock

1 - C-LOCK
2 - AXLE SHAFT
3 - SIDE GEAR

(2) Insert C-lock in end of axle shaft. Push axle shaft outward to seat C-lock in side gear.

(3) Insert pinion shaft into differential case and through thrust washers and differential pinions.

(4) Align hole in shaft with hole in the differential case and install lock screw with Loctitet on the threads. Tighten lock screw to 11 N·m (8 ft. lbs.) torque.

(5) Install cover and add fluid. Refer to Lubricant Change procedure in this section for procedure and lubricant requirements.

(6) Install brake drum. Refer to Group 5, Brakes, for proper procedures.

(7) Install wheel and tire.

(8) Lower vehicle.

Rear axle

Axle shaft

Axle seal and bearing

Pinion seal

Differential

Differential side bearings

Ring gear

Pinion gear