Output shaft Seal Replacement
All of these installations are to be performed at your own risk!!!!
The differential has two output shaft seals. One on the driver's side and one on the passenger side that seal the gap between the differential and the axle drive shafts. If these leak you may notice gear oil on your suspension or on the rear fascia of the car. One would think that this job is a real PITA but it isn't. Let's get started.
Tools you will need:
Supplies:
Step 1:
Loosen the lugnuts on your rear wheels and jack up the vehicle. Place your pucks in and place jackstands underneath to support the vehicle. Pull your rear tires off and place under the vehicle as well for extra safety. Open your hood and remove negative battery cable.
Step 2:
Loosen your brake caliper bolts with a 15mm socket. There is one on the top and one on the bottom. Hold the caliper pin with a 5/8" wrench while turning the socket. After removing the two caliper bolts slide the caliper off. I place mine in the heat shield. This is a good way to get them out of your way. Place bolts in plastic cup and mark the cup as caliper bolts. Zip tie your pads in place so they don't fall out. Repeat with the other side of vehicle.
Step 3:
Undo the 13mm bolts a the top of the shock. Place bolts in plastic cup and mark cup as shock bolts.
Step 4:
Loosen the two 18mm bolts at the top of the upper control arm. Swing control arm free of its mounting brackets. Place bolts in cup and mark the cup as control arm bolts.
Step 5:
After you remove the above items you can now disengage the wheel drive shafts from the differential. Slightly move the rotors back and forth and give it a couple of good tugs. You will feel it start to pull out. Once it is disengaged, take a small flat head screwdriver and gently pry out the old seal. Gently tap in new seal. NO sealant is used here. Just tap it in. Tap taparoo.
Step 7:
Reassemble and have a beer! (Hints: To get the driveshaft to lineup you will need to pick up on the rotor and kind of wiggle it in. It will seat just about all of the way into the differential. It is easy to get the shock bolted back up if you place a jack under the spring and lift it up.)
Rear shocks - torque to 22 ft./lbs.
Upper control arms - torque to 81 ft./lbs.
Calipers - torque to 23 ft./lbs.
Lugnuts - torque to 100 ft./lbs.