removing axle shafts

[atilla_the_fun]

I'm replacing the rear axle seal.. I've taken off the four bolts holding the assembly, but the axle shaft will not pull out of the axle housing. Are there more bolts that I am missing? The parking brake and the abs sensors have been detached.

How can I get the axle shaft out?

[BigMeatVX]

If you have everything un-bolted, give the axle flange a few taps with a soft hammer...or see if you can wedge a pry-bay in there somehow for leverage...it takes a bit of force :bwgy:

[atilla_the_fun]

It was he ABS sensor that was holding it on! Remove the sensor and they slide right out. I had the sensor unplugged, but not removed.

I'm replacing the rear axle seal..

The outer one is 22$ and is embedded in the axle shaft along with the wheel bearing. This outer seal needs to be pressed into place. The wheel bearing should also be replaced when doing this.

The inner one is 6$ and does not need to be pressed in.


My symptoms were as follows:
rear differential fluid all over the caliper, axle housing and inside the parking brake drums.

Does anyone know if this symptom is common to the inner our outer seal failure? Unless someone has any other ideas, I will only be replacing the inner, which does not need a press and I can do here at home.

[LittleBeast]

You sure it needs a press? I did mine with a PVC pipe and some hammering ;) Yeah after I tore an ABS sensor in half, lol. Sorry I couldn't chime in sooner!

[atilla_the_fun]

did you have the same symptoms? The one on the axle housing, thats the seal you see as soon as you remove the axle, is the inner seal and doesn't require a press. The outer seal is next to the wheel bearing and requires it all to be pressed off.