SURFACE PREPARATION

6-14. DRIVE AXLE, LESS DIFFERENTIAL. .

CAUTION

Never use paint removing solvents from

a. Removal and disassembly.

damaged or leaking containers or solvents

that have been exposed to the air for long

(1). Raise front of truck so drive wheels clear

periods of time.

Do not permit paint

floor.

removing solvent to come in contact with

bearings, rubber, insulated wires, or plastic

(2). Remove wheel bolts and draw dual wheel,

materials as the solvent will quickly

tires and drum from drive axle.

deteriorate such materials.

NOTE

6-10. SURFACE PREPARATION. Painting previously

painted surfaces necessitates the partial or complete

Removal may be easier if weight of wheel is

removal of' the old paint before a satisfactory covering

supported by a wheeled floor jack or dolly.

can be achieved.

(3). Disconnect brake lines from wheel cylinders,

a. Use paint removing solvents, abrasives, scrapers

and handbrake cable at propeller shaft.

or wire brushes, as necessary, to remove old paint, dirt,

and rust from the area to be painted. Wash the cleaned

(4). Drain axle lubricant.

area with a paint thinner to remove wax deposits or

abrasive particles.

(5). Remove nuts, washers and tapered bushings,

holding final drive gear case (Figure 6-1) to axle housing.

b. If paint removal is not necessary, a thorough

Tap studs as necessary to separate, and remove gear

washing and degreasing job must be accomplished

case with attached parts. Axle will stay in housing.

before paint can be applied. This can be performed by

washing surfaces with soap and water, rinsing with paint

(6). Remove and discard gasket. Remove bolts and

thinner, and drying with compressed air.

washers, and axle shaft bearing retainer, and pull out

axle shaft and ball bearing. Take retaining collar from

c. In the case of new metal surfaces, wash with

within axle housing. If to be serviced, press bearing from

paint thinner and use abrasive blasting to remove

axle shaft.

remaining dirt, oil, casting sand, mill scale, slag, or other

foreign material. Wash with paint thinner again after

(7). Take cotter pin, nut and washer from end of

blasting.

final drive gearshaft, and remove final drive gear, final

drive gearshaft, bearing cups and cones, and rollers

d. Apply paint and varnish remover with a good

from gear case.

bristle brush, stroking in one direction only. Brushing out

causes rapid evaporation of the volatile solvents, thus

(8). Remove screws and nuts to wheel adapter, and

decreasing the effectiveness of the remover.

separate gearshift, adapter, oil seals and washer.

Remove wheel bolts, and remove brake drum.

e. Allow the remover to remain on the painted

surface until the old paint begins to wrinkle and soften.

b. Inspection.

After paint softens scrape or brush off.

(1) Check oil seals for any imperfection.

f. Wash all traces of paint remover wax deposits

from surface with paint thinner.

(2) Examine bearing rollers, cups and cones for

wear. Replace if rollers, are worn, ridged or pitted.

g. Sandblast, wire brush, or sandpaper remaining

paint or rust from the surface being worked. Rinse with

(3) Inspect final drive gear and axle shaft pinion for

paint thinner.

chipping cracks, or scoring.

6-11. NOT APPLICABLE.

c. Assembly and installation. Assemble and install by

reversing a. above, noting the following: (1) Coat wheel

6-12. DRIVE AXLE.

bearings and oil seals with GAA before assembly.

6-13. GENERAL. This assembly is a double reduction

(2). After gear, washer, and nut have been installed

drive axle. Periodic overhaul of the entire assembly is

on final drive shaft, tighten nut until slight drag is felt

not anticipated. Rather, service will generally be required

when turning case. This is wheel bearing adjustment,

either at those elements of the axle outboard of the

with correct final result of no endplay, but slight bearing

differential assembly, or to the differential assembly

drag. If cotter pin will not enter hole with this adjustment,

itself. The following instructions treat each of these

stake nut into spline slot on shaft.

areas separately.