How to Remove the Rear Axle Bearing on a '97 Astro

The 1997 Chevrolet Astro van is powered by a 4.3-liter V-6. The standard rear-wheel-drive Astro van has independent front suspension, using coil springs and upper and lower control arms. A solid, semi-floating rear axle is supported by leaf springs. The semi-floating axles are retained by C-clips inside the differential and are supported by bearings at the end of each axle tube. An oil seal is mounted in front of each bearing to retain the lubricant.

Instructions

Removal

1

Park the Astro on a level, paved surface. Block the front wheels with wheel chocks. Loosen the lug nuts on the rear wheels. Raise the rear of the Astro with a jack and support it with jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and wheels. Remove the brake drums.

2

Clean the area around the differential cover with a wire brush and shop rag. Slide a drain pan under the differential cover. Loosen all of the cover bolts with a ratchet and socket and gently pry the cover loose with a flat-head screwdriver. Catch the gear oil in the drain pan. Remove the bolts and cover.

3

Cover the differential with a shop rag and scrape any gasket material or debris from the housing with a putty knife. Scrape the cover. Wipe out the bottom of the housing with a shop rag.

4

Remove the pinion shaft bolt with a ratchet and socket. The bolt is in the side of the differential carrier, opposite the ring gear. It retains the pinion shaft that runs through the carrier. Slide the shaft out past the side gears until you can see the ends of the axles. Move to the outside of the axle and push it in toward the differential. Move back to the differential and remove the exposed C-clip from the end of the axle with needle-nosed pliers.

5

Pull the axle out of the axle tube. If the van is equipped with ABS, be careful not to damage the sensor ring on the axle or the sensor attached to the backing plate.

6

Insert a bearing puller, attached to a slide hammer, into the axle tube. Use the slide hammer to draw out the bearing and seal. The tangs of the bearing puller should engage the bearing outer race. Wipe out the axle tube with a shop rag.

Installation

7

Lubricate a new bearing with 80W-90 GL-5 gear oil. Use a hammer and bearing installer to drive the bearing into the axle tube. Lubricate the rubber lip of a new oil seal and use the bearing installer to install it into the tube. If the van is equipped with ABS, be careful working around the sensor.

8

Slide the axle into the tube, taking care not to damage the new seal, sensor ring or sensor. Push the axle in far enough that you can install the C-clip in the end of the axle. Pull out on the axle to seat the C-clip in the side gear. Slide the pinion shaft back into the differential. Apply a drop of blue thread-locking compound to the pinion bolt. Install the bolt and use a torque wrench to torque the bolt to 27 foot-pounds.

9

Clean the gasket surfaces of the housing and cover with a shop rag and lacquer thinner. Apply a thin film of Black RTV silicone to the cover. Press a new gasket onto the cover and apply a thin film of RTV to the gasket. Mount the cover and install the bolts. Torque the bolts to 20 foot-pounds, working in a crisscross pattern and tightening the bolts a little bit at a time.

10

Remove the filler plug from the differential cover with a ratchet. If equipped with limited-slip, add 4 ounces of friction modifier before filling the differential with 80W-90 GL-5 gear oil to within a quarter-inch of the filler hole. Install and tighten the plug.

11

Mount the brake drum, wheels and lug nuts. Raise the Astro, remove the jack stands and lower it to the ground. Torque the lug nuts to 90 foot-pounds.