How to replace the rear axle shaft 2009-2018 Dodge Ram 1500

To replace the rear axle shaft on your Ram 1500 It’s easy. You will need to lift the vehicle, remove the rear brake system, open the differential as well as carry out a few other steps. You can carry out this tutorial of 14 chapters in 100 minutes. Take your 13 mm socket and your torque wrench and let’s get started!

Duration

100 minutes

Number of steps

Difficulty out of 5

Average savings

$150

Parts You Will Need

Tools You Will Need

Step-by-Step Installation

Chapter 1:

Open the hood

Step 1/3

Turn your engine off and set the parking brake.

Chapter 1:

Step 2/3

Pull on the hood release handle and open the hood.

Chapter 1:

Step 3/3

Open the brake fluid reservoir.

Chapter 2:

Lift the vehicle

Step 1/3

Loosen the wheel lug nuts on the rear wheels.

Chapter 2:

Step 2/3

Lift the rear of your vehicle. Place the vehicle on the jack stands.

Chapter 2:

Step 3/3

Don’t forget to put the wheels under the vehicle!

Chapter 3:

Remove the rear brake system

Step 1/1

Now you need to remove the brake system.

Chapter 4:

Informations

Step 1/2

You now have access to part of your rear axle shaft. In order to remove the rear axle shaft, you need to disengage it from the differential.

Chapter 4:

Step 2/2

To do this, the differential must be drained.

Chapter 5:

Open the differential

Step 1/2

You must now remove the differential cover. Use a ratchet, an extender, and a 13mm socket to unscrew the 12 bolts that hold the differential cover in place.

Chapter 5:

Step 2/2

Next, use a crowbar to lever along the edge of the differential in order to remove the differential cover. You now have access to the differential.

Chapter 6:

Set up

Step 1/3

In order to work with the differential, you must manually put the vehicle in “Neutral.” To do this, use a plastic fork to remove the plastic cover located above the parking brake.

Chapter 6:

Step 2/3

Use a flat head screwdriver to push the locking pin and pull on the strap.

Chapter 6:

Step 3/3

You can now freely rotate the rear axle in order to access the pinion shaft lock bolt.

Chapter 7:

Remove the rear axle shaft

Step 1/7

To block differential rotation when unscrewing the lock bolt, replace the Neutral manual lever.

Chapter 7:

Step 2/7

Using an 8-mm wrench, unscrew the lock bolt from the pinion shaft. Then, remove it.

Chapter 7:

Step 3/7

Pull the Neutral manual lever again.

Chapter 7:

Step 4/7

Rotate the differential in order to access the pinion shaft.

Chapter 7:

Step 5/7

You can now extract the pinion shaft by pushing it outward.

Chapter 7:

Step 6/7

You must push the rear axle shaft towards the differential so that the retaining clip can drop.

Chapter 7:

Step 7/7

You can now remove the rear axle shaft.

Chapter 8:

Put the rear axle shaft back

Step 1/10

Take the new rear axle shaft and insert it all the way into its slot.

Chapter 8:

Step 2/10

Replace the retaining clip.

Chapter 8:

Step 3/10

Then pull on the axle shaft to block the retaining clip in its housing, so that you can insert the pinion shaft.

Chapter 8:

Step 4/10

Reinsert the pinion shaft.

Chapter 8:

Step 5/10

Rotate the axle shaft, so that you can replace the lock bolt.

Chapter 8:

Step 6/10

Then replace the lock bolt, initially by hand.

Chapter 8:

Step 7/10

Replace the Neutral manual lever.

Chapter 8:

Step 8/10

Replace the plastic cover.

Chapter 8:

Step 9/10

Then screw the lock bolt back on using the 8mm wrench.

Chapter 8:

Step 10/10

Finish tightening using a torque wrench.

Chapter 9:

Clean

Step 1/3

Before replacing the differential cover, you need to clean the seal surface to ensure a perfect seal. Place a paper towel in the differential to prevent seal residue from falling into it.

Chapter 9:

Step 2/3

Remove the used seal with a razor blade. Then, scrub with fine sandpaper. Finish with brake cleaner and wipe with a paper towel.

Chapter 9:

Step 3/3

Repeat the same operations on the differential cover. Since the differential is open, clean the screws too if they are full of sealant.

Chapter 10:

Close the differential

Step 1/2

Once perfectly clean, thinly apply silicone gasket maker in order to ensure a perfect seal on the differential. Replace the differential cover, first tightening the bolts by hand until they are finger-tight.