Joe417 wrote:
FYI, I finished the job today. It's a 2008 model. If you've never done a rear axle bearing or seal repair on a 2500 or 3500 its an easy job. Only hard part for me was getting the parking break cable off and back on, as I needed to replace brake parts and not the bearings. Oh, and getting up out of the floor every time I got down on my knees wasn't easy either.
For anyone who didn't under stand the question, on my 2500 the rear end has floating axles. To remove the parking brake backer plate you have to remove the axle and then the wheel spindle which is held on by a spindle nut.
The spindle nut is a round ~2 5/8in ring that is threaded to screw onto the rear spindle shaft to retain the bearings. It has 6 holes around it and requires a special socket to re-install it. The socket has 6 "lugs" about 1/4" long that fit into the holes in the nut.
Yes, the socket is very handy to have around. My RAM uses the same 11.5" AAM axle that you have in your Chevy. I had to replace leaking hub seals in mine and purchased the socket so I could set the bearings with the proper pre-load.
What was the torque on your GM? RAM spec is to tighten the spindle nut to 30 ft-lbs, then back off 30 degrees or until the nearest keyway lines up. I'm very curious to know if the GM instructions are different.
KJ
