Third Member

From Faq

How To Remove Rear Third Member (Rear Differential)

• Support truck via rear axle

• Remove wheels

• Drain rear differential fluid (*Make sure you are able to loosen the fill plug before you remove the drain plug)

• Disconnect parking brake at each drum

• Disconnect rear hard brakelines at drum using 10mm flare wrench- try to cap the hard line to minimize brake fluid loss

• Remove the (4)nuts on the back plate of the drum

• Remove rear axle shafts by carefully sliding the shafts outward (Keep the shaft parallel to the axle tube to avoid damaging the rear axle seals)

• Mark the location of the rear driveshaft & pinion flange before removal unbolting

• Unbolt the (4) bolts and separate shaft & flange (*Use wire hanger or similar to suspend rear drive shaft)

• Remove all (10) nuts & washer around the 3rd member

• Separate the third member from the axle housing (*Caution* use something to catch /rest the diff assembly such as wood blocks or mechanics creeper)

• Be sure to clean the remove any old gasket material from mating surfaces of the axle & diff housings

Installation is reverse of removal

--Grillmasterp 11:20, 26 Apr 2005 (PDT)