Need a good site...

[Martin N.]

to discuss replacement of a right front axle shaft seal on my 2004 AWD Tahoe, anyone ever do this or have a favorite Truck / SUV site they frequent? I'm having an issue with the right axle tube/shaft coming free of the diff. housing. Thanks for any suggestions and I wish I was working on my Vette instead of my daily driver.
Marty

[Ray G.]

Re: Need a good site...

to discuss replacement of a right front axle shaft seal on my 2004 AWD Tahoe, anyone ever do this or have a favorite Truck / SUV site they frequent? I'm having an issue with the right axle tube/shaft coming free of the diff. housing. Thanks for any suggestions and I wish I was working on my Vette instead of my daily driver.
Marty

Hello Martin;
Tahoe / Yukon club on line is very informative.

Ray

[Mike M.]

Re: Need a good site...

I'm not sure if it is the same, but I last weekend I replaced the right front axle housing on an '07 Yukon Denali XL AWD (1/2 ton). As part of the job I replaced the gasket between the axle housing and the differential and the seal and bearing at the end of the axle housing. This is not a bad job and can be done without removing the CV shaft if you remove the bolts holding the shock to the lower "A" arm and jack the "A" frame up slightly.
This will allow the CV joint flange to drop below the axle flange consequently allowing the axle to be removed far enough to disengage it from the differential. Then unbolt the axle housing and drop the axle and housing out of the vehicle. I do recommend replacing the outer seal and bearing, I would hate to try to replace the bearing with the axle housing still in the vehicle. Whole job took about 5 hours.

[Martin N.]

Re: Need a good site...

I'm not sure if it is the same, but I last weekend I replaced the right front axle housing on an '07 Yukon Denali XL AWD (1/2 ton). As part of the job I replaced the gasket between the axle housing and the differential and the seal and bearing at the end of the axle housing. This is not a bad job and can be done without removing the CV shaft if you remove the bolts holding the shock to the lower "A" arm and jack the "A" frame up slightly.
This will allow the CV joint flange to drop below the axle flange consequently allowing the axle to be removed far enough to disengage it from the differential. Then unbolt the axle housing and drop the axle and housing out of the vehicle. I do recommend replacing the outer seal and bearing, I would hate to try to replace the bearing with the axle housing still in the vehicle. Whole job took about 5 hours.

Mike-
Thanks for the response. My issue right now is getting the Right Axle to release from the differential. The Axle housing is loose and I've tried using a brass punch & hammer (as per my Chevy dealer) to knock the Axle out of the diff. but no luck, I'm a little leary of hitting it too hard. How'd your axle come out?
Marty

[Martin N.]

Re: Need a good site...

Here's my favorite full-size forum. To answer your origional question.

DAVE-
Thanks for the info. & site. I tried your suggestion but I used a 12 LB. sledge and a pry bar, no success. I must be missing something.
Marty

[Paul J.]

Re: Need a good site...

DAVE-
Thanks for the info. & site. I tried your suggestion but I used a 12 LB. sledge and a pry bar, no success. I must be missing something.
Marty

Grab it and growl, Marty. They can be stubborn, as you have found. I usually use a pry bar, and make sure that I've got my balance. Dave's got the right method, and be sure to check out the link he provided.

Paul

[Mike M.]

Re: Need a good site...

Martin,
I did it like Dave suggested, I used a pry bar between the housing and the axle flange and whacked the flange a couple of times with a lead filled plastic hammer. It did take a number of hits, the key is getting the slack out of the axle with the pry bar.
Putting it back in took a 3 ft. long 2 x 4 and a bigger hammer, but again the key is getting the axle up against the snap ring as tightly as possible before you hit it.