Rear Axle Replacement

[Hu11aba1oo]

Hello, I'm replacing the rear left axle and bearing on a 2008 GMC Sierra C1500 with 75K miles.

 

Is there a guide available online that can walk me through the process? Will I need any special tools? Also, how long do you estimate it will take? Are there any additional items I should replace or check while I'm under there, (i.e. sensors, lines, etc.)? Any other tips or suggestions are welcome.

 

Thanks in advance, guys.

[Jsdirt]

I'm just curious ..... what caused that to fail at 75k????

[Hu11aba1oo]

Hit an ice patch causing the rear tire to strike a curb with enough force to bend the axle slightly. I replaced the rim but the wheel still doesn't rotate true. Aside from that everything is sound, but I'm afraid it will eventually eat up my tire and axle bearing.

[Doug_Scott]

If the axle is bent, replace the axle. There is absolutely no reason the change the axle bearing and seal as preventitive action.

 

To replace axle, you need to remove diff cover, remove the lock bolt that holds the pin in place, remove the pin, push axle in so you can remove the C clip from end of axle, pull axle out, once the axle is almost completely out, use the end of the axle to hook the edge of the axle seal and pop the seal out. Using a small slide hammer with a toggle plate that will fit through the axle bearing, and use slide hammer to remove axle bearing from rear axle housing.

Now, just put everything back together in the reverse order using a new axle, axle bearing, and axle seal. You will also need a new gasket for the diff cover, and new rear axle oil. Should take someone with the proper tools about an hour to complete. Likely 4 or 5 hours for someone that tries it without an axle bearing puller.

[Duelin]

Usually when you hit a curb or if the vehicle was in an accident and got hit on the tire and rim it is the axle flange that bends. But I have seen in some case that the axle tube will bend and the axle will be ok. I would double check everything first.

[gmtech4]

+2 ,leave the bearing alone

[Doug_Scott]

Usually when you hit a curb or if the vehicle was in an accident and got hit on the tire and rim it is the axle flange that bends. But I have seen in some case that the axle tube will bend and the axle will be ok. I would double check everything first.

 

Back in 89 or 90 I had a customer(was working in a Firestone company store) bring a relatively new Mustang in because he found the car very hard to drive in the rain. He was a regular customer, and this was a new issue for him. Any speed over 30mph and it would feel like one rear tire was spinning in the rain. He thought maybe it was hydroplaning, and needed new rear tires. He had a son that was 17 and has started driving this car recently. Customer figured maybe his kid had burnt off the tread of the tire.

 

I took the car out the usual road test route I take, and part of this road has a fairly sharp bend in the road with a speed limit of 60kmph. About half way through this bend the car swapped ends. No warning at all. Went around the block, and tried it again, this time really paying attention to what was going on. This time I could catch it before it came all the way around and went back to the shop. Put car on hoist, looked the chassis over, tires, wheels, control arms, rear trac arms, could not see anything bent or not looking right. Put car on alignment machine, using a brand new Hunter 4 wheel alignment machine, and it showed the left rear wheel toed in 1.75 inch. Once we saw that, we could then see where the rear end housing was bent. It bent just in from where the flange is welded on. Never did find out how it got bent, tire looked good, wheel looked good, spare was still orignal. His kid never admitted to anything. We got a housing from wreckers, and car was good again in the rain.

 

Long story to say, if housing is bent, hang on, the ride in the rain will take your breathe away. Also, a bent housing will not show up when you spin the tire. The tire/wheel mounted on car will spin true if the housing is bent.