GM 26050549 Rear Axle Drive Shaft

To take out the axle shaft, start off by loosening the wheel lug nuts and raising the motorcar with jackstands. Remove the wheel and use a prybar or big screwdriver to hold the axle shaft while loosening the axle shaft hub nut using a big breaker bar. Get rid of the nut and washer. Then, keep hold of the axle shaft in position and clear away the axle shaft flange bolts ensuring you label CV joint inner to flange interconnectivity before eliminating these bolts. On 1999 on models, there are no axleshafts which are flanged to differential housing anymore but they have snap rings holding them at inside closed end of spline ends at trilobate joints. To free up an axleshaft, thump against it somewhere on its tripod container with wooden hammer until it snaps out of place from its groove. Take out steering knuckle then remove also halfshaft assembly. To reinstall proceed vice versa however when doing that ensure that you properly torque rear cv joint bolt and tighten front left outer cv joint as well as right outer cv joint hub nuts.

The rear axle assembly is a hypoid, semi-floating type with a differential that allows the outer rear tire to turn more quickly than the inner tire when the vehicle goes around a corner. The axle shafts are splined to the differential side gears, causing the inner tire to turn more slowly than the outer tire. The differential pinion gears roll around the slower side gear, driving the outer side gear and tire more quickly. The differential is housed within a casting with a pressed steel cover known as the "carrier," and the steel axle tubes are pressed into and welded to the carrier. On 4WD models, a fully independent front axle assembly is used, consisting of a differential and a pair of driveaxles with inner and outer constant velocity (CV) joints. An extension axleshaft is employed on the right side to make up the difference in distance between the differential and the right front wheel. An optional locking limited-slip rear axle is also available, which allows for normal operation until one wheel loses traction. This differential includes a pair of clutch "cones" that slow the rotation of the differential case when one wheel is on a firm surface and the other on a slippery one, equalizing the rotation speed of the axleshaft driving the wheel with traction. It is important to check for other possible causes before assuming the axle is the problem, as road noise, tire noise, and engine and transmission noise can be mistaken for axle issues. Overhauling the differential may require special tools and is not typically cost-effective for a do-it-yourselfer.

For locking differentials, install the C-locks with the pinion shaft partially withdrawn, ensuring they are positioned correctly. Withdraw the axleshaft carefully until the C-lock clears the thrust block. Once the C-locks are installed, push the pinion shaft into place with the groove lined up with the lock bolt hole, then install the lock bolt.

Disconnect the driveshaft and secure it out of the way.