Drive Pinion and Ring Gear Replacement 8.6, 9.5LD Inch Axles

Special Tools

J 22536 Pinion Remover

1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle.
2. Remove the differential assembly. Refer to Differential Replacement.
3. Remove the pinion flange/yoke and the oil seal. Refer to Drive Pinion Flange/Yoke and/or Oil Seal Replacement.




Note: DO NOT let the drive pinion fall out of the rear axle housing.

4. Using the J 22536 remover and a hammer, remove the drive pinion from the housing.



5. Remove and discard the collapsible spacer from the pinion.
6. Remove the pinion bearings and the cups. Refer to Drive Pinion Bearings Replacement.




Note: The ring gear bolts have left-hand threads.

7. Remove and discard the ring gear bolts. Use NEW ring gear bolts ONLY.

Caution: Refer to Ring Gear Removal Caution in the Preface section.




8. Using a brass drift, remove the ring gear from the differential.

Note: The mating surface of the ring gear and the differential case must be clean and free of burrs before installing the ring gear.




1. Install the ring gear to the differential case.




Note: The ring gear bolts have left-hand threads. Hand start each ring gear bolt so as not to cross thread the ring gear bolts or the differential carrier.

Caution: Refer to Fastener Caution in the Preface section.

Note: Use hand tool ONLY when tightening the NEW ring gear bolts.

3. Install the NEW ring gear bolts and tighten to 120 N·m (89 lb ft). in a criss cross pattern to draw and seat the ring gear and the differential carrier.
4. Install the selective shim onto the pinion. Refer to Pinion Depth Adjustment
5. Install the inner pinion bearing to the pinion. Refer to Drive Pinion Bearings Replacement.
6. Install a NEW collapsible spacer.
7. Lubricate the pinion bearings with axle lubricant. Refer to Fluid and Lubricant Recommendations.
8. Install the outer pinion bearing into the axle housing.
9. Install the pinion drive gear into the axle housing.
10. Install the drive pinion flange/yoke. Refer to Drive Pinion Flange/Yoke and/or Oil Seal Replacement.
11. Install the differential assembly. Refer to Differential Replacement.
12. Fill the axle with lubricant. Use the proper fluid. Refer to Rear Axle Lubricant Replacement.
13. Remove the support and lower the vehicle.

Drive Pinion and Ring Gear Replacement 10.5 Inch Axle

1. Raise the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle.
2. Remove the differential case assembly. Refer to Differential Replacement.
3. Remove the drive pinion housing assembly. Refer to Drive Pinion Housing and/or Seal Replacement.



4. Remove and discard the gear bolts. Replace with NEW only.

Caution: Refer to Ring Gear Removal Caution in the Preface section.




5. Using a brass drift and a hammer, remove the ring gear from the differential case.

1. If the differential case has become separated, assemble the differential case by aligning the two arrows inside the differential case.

Note: The mating surface of the ring gear and the differential case must be clean and free of burrs before installing the ring gear.

2. Install the ring gear to the differential case.




Note: Use hand tools ONLY. DO NOT use power tools for the following procedure.

3. Hand tighten the new ring gear bolts.

Caution: Refer to Fastener Caution in the Preface section.

4. Install the NEW ring gear bolts and tighten to 120 N·m (89 lb ft). in a criss cross pattern to draw and seat the ring gear and the on the differential case.
5. Install the drive pinion housing assembly. Refer to Drive Pinion Housing and/or Seal Replacement.
6. Install the differential assembly. Refer to Differential Replacement.
7. Fill the axle with the proper lubricant. Refer to Rear Axle Lubricant Replacement.
8. Remove the support and lower the vehicle.