replacing rear axle shaft?

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

so tomarrow im helping to get my friends k5 off a trail, he snapped an axle and it has to be replaced on site. so i was wondering what all is involved in swapping the shafts as i havent had to do this yet.
thanks
cody

 

[82355]

What axle?

Martin

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

its the rear drivers side axle

 

[obijuan]

of which axle homes. 10 bolt 12 bolt 14 bolt 16 bolt 18 bolt 20 bolt?

 

[thorguy57]

guessing it is a 10 bolt. You will have to back off the brakes more then likely and take a hammer to beat the drum a few times because it will probably be rusted. Take a 1/2"? socket up there to pull the rear diff cover off. Bring a pan to catch the oil if it hasn't all leaked out yet. Take a 5/16" socket to pull the bolt out for the cross pin. Pull the cross pin out and the spider gears out. You might have to push the broken axle in some to clear the C-clip from the side gears. Pull out the C-Clip and the broken axle shaft. Install is reverse just use the good axle for re-assembly. Be sure you get both the spider gears in there and the pin through both of them. Refill with oil. Be sure to take a new gasket or RTV. Some brake clean would be good to just incase there are some metal particles floating around in there from the broken axle.

 

[82355]

I am guessing it is a 10 bolt (or a 12 bolt, same thing). YOu have to remove the inspection cover. Pull the bolt out of the diff pin. Remove the diff pin, and slide the axle in, till you can remove the c-clip. (This is of course, after you jack up the K%, remove tyhe wheel, and the drum.)

Assembly is the opposite. Make sure to take a (clean) catch pan for the fluid, and a suction gun, to put it back in with.

Martin

 

[uglyangelracing]

guessing a 10bolt...
1. jack up vehicle remove tire and drum. ( you might need a pick and brake spoon
to back off parking brake)


2. remove rear diff cover.

3. remove 8mm bolt from carrier.

4. push axle from tire side towards pumpkin.

5. remove c-clip.

6. slide axle out.

 

[jms]

A few things that might come in handy:

Magnet on a stick - pick up stray pieces of metal from the break.
Long piece of pipe (dia smaller than axleshaft, longer than half the axle housing...) in case the broken piece of the axleshaft doesn't want to move and prevents you from getting the C-clip out - the pipe and a hammer can persuade the broken piece to go inwards or outwards.

 

[82355]

Or just take a log and a chain. Drive it out in four wheel drive.

Martin

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

thanks for the help guys, i thoght of the log idea but theres now way it would make it out of this trail, we just got a nice rain storm that changed it from when we took it down there. so is there a difference in removal between a 12 and 10 bolt?

 

[82355]

so is there a difference in removal between a 12 and 10 bolt?

No.

Martin