>
> KEN,
> I'm glad some one chimed in that knows what he's talking about.
would you explain to Russ and others how the pinion can be removed with
out pulling the axles. I would attempt it my self but my opinions seem
to always be dismissed or otherwise forgotten . Wayne E
Kingston '95 EXEC/4runner in Gila Bend
>
>
Wayne, to put it simply, it can't!
FIRST: Let me warn you: This explanation is going to get complicated,
but the question was raised. I know lots of fine mechanics who have
never worked on a rear axle. When I worked for a Chevrolet dealer, I
was the only mechanic in the shop who did rear axle work. I spent many
years as an aircraft maintenance instructor in the Air Force, so please
excuse the length of this reply. I wish I had a chalkboard.
SECOND: Let's define some terminology: The "tail pinion" is the short
shaft with a pinion gear on it that sticks out of the drive axle.
The "ring gear" is the large bevel gear which engages the tail pinion
and surrounds the "differential assembly". The "ring gear" is bolted
around the "differential assembly" which contains the "side gears"
splined for the "drive axles" and the "planet" or "sun" gears.
The "rear axle housing" is the steel housing which runs crosswise
between the wheels and supports the weight of the vehicle. The big
round area in the center of the "rear axle housing" has a heavy casting
bolted or welded to it which is known as the "differential carrier
housing". On a diesel pusher, this "differential carrier housing" will
be on the back side of the "rear axle housing". If the "differential
carrier housing" is bolted to the "rear axle housing", it can be
removed and placed on a workbench.
THIRD: Unless the drive axle has a "pinion cage" bolted on to the
front of the "differential carrier housing", the "tail pinion" cannot
be removed without removing the "differential assembly", and both axle
shafts must be removed before the "differential assembly" can be
removed. A motorhome probably won't have a "pinion cage" unless it has
a 2-speed axle.
FOURTH: Trucks and motorhomes are equipped with "full floating
axles." This simply means the axle shaft doesn't support any vehicle
weight. "Full floating axles" simply transmit torque to the drive
wheels, but the wheel bearings are located between the wheel hub and
the rear axle housing. If you've seen new trucks being delivered from
the factory -- sort of stacked on one another, only the first truck has
the axle shafts installed. The other wheels are just free wheeling.
You might want to remember that if your motorhome ever has to be towed
a long distance. Instead of removing the drive shaft, you could remove
the axle shafts. But you will need to make some kind of a cover to
bolt on to the hub to keep the grease from running out. Truck
factories use a little circular piece of metal or plywood with holes
drilled around the circle to bolt it up tight to the hub.
FIFTH: Some banjo style rear axles are designed so the "differential
carrier housing" can be unbolted from the "axle housing". However,
even on banjo rear axles, both axle shafts must still be removed to get
the "differential assembly" out, because the axles are splined into the
side gears, and the "differential assembly" must be removed from
the "rear axle housing" before the pinion can be removed. The
advantage is simply that the "differential carrier housing" can be
moved to a workbench instead of lying on a creeper beneath the
motorhome.
FINALLY: Just to repeat one point that Russ brought out. There should
be no movement of the "tail pinion" either up and down, or sideways, or
in and out. But there should be a slight rotational movement
(backlash), but not more than about 1/16" to 1/8". And as mentioned
before, if the zerks were missing, that alone is sufficient cause for
replacing the U-joints. Even if only one U-joint is bad, I'd replace
both of them, because they've both gone the same distance, and most of
the labor has to be done just by removing the driveshaft.
I hope this helps.
Ken Molloy
'94 Allegro Bay 37' DP
5.9 liter Cummins 230 hp w/Allison M-3060
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