SECTION 5

REAR AXLE
CONTENTS OF THIS SECTION
Page
5-1
Rear Axle 53
Propeller Shafts and Universal Joints

REAR AXLE
The 1964 Chevrolet Passenger Car Axle Assembly the 1961 Passenger Car Shop Manual, Section 5.
design and service operations remain as outlined in

MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENTS

LUBRICANT with lubricant at the factory and should be drained
only when the differential carrier assembly is removed.
Lubricant level should be periodically checked and Periodic draining of the axle is not recommended.
maintained at the filler plug level. The ax].e is filled

SERVICE OPERATIONS
AXLE WHEEL BEARING AND/OR BEARING ASSEMBLY REMOVAL
OIL SEAL REPLACEMENT 1. Remove axle shaft assembly from vehicle follow
ing instructions presented on page 5-2 of 1961
To emphasize the importance of proper installation Passenger Car Shop Manual.
procedures, service operations pertaining to axle
wheel bearings and/or oil seal replacement are in-
cluded in this supplement.
When performing wheel bearing seal replacement, it
is always necessary to remove the bearing assembly
from the axle shaft, for the following reasons:

a. The bearing seals being of synthetic rubber

composition are sensitive to cutting and abrasion.
The bearing retaining ring is larger and con
siderably rougher than the seal running surface.

b. With the bearing installed on the axle shaft, it

is not possible to adequately clean, inspect or
repack the bearing with lubricant.
The following procedures should be utilized when
replacing axle wheel bearings and/or seals. Repacking
the bearing with too much lubricant can cause pre
mature failure of the bearing, particular attention
should be directed to the bearing lubrication instruc
tions under "Bearing Seal Replacement". Fig. 1 -Splitting Bearing Retaining Ring

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REAR AXLE 5-2

Fig. 2-Removing Axle Shaft Wheel Bearing

2. Remove bearing retainer ring by splitting with

Fig. 3-Rear Axle Shaft and Bearing Detail
chisel, as shown in Figure 1.
over the entire seal and press seal into the bear
CAUTION: Under no circumstances should heat
ing until the rim of the seal case is flush with the
be applied to aid in the removal of the re
top surface of bearing outer race. Refer to Figure
taining ring.
3 for correct seal position.
3. Install press plate, Tool J-5741, between bearing
and axle retainer plate fig. 2. It will be neces
sary to remove axle retainer plate attaching bolts BEARING ASSEMBLY INSTALLATION
to permit installation of Tool J-5741 between re 1. Install axle shaft retainer plate attaching bolts,
tainer and bearing. position retainer plate on shaft and down against
4. Press bearing from shaft with press plate parting the axle shaft flange.
line positioned on press bed, as shown in Figure 2.
2. Position bearing assembly on axle shaft with seal
toward splined end of shaft, as shown in Figure 3.
BEARING SEAL REPLACEMENT
3. Install bearing by seating bearing in Tool J-6661
1. Remove bearing from axle shaft as explained in and pressing axle shaft into bearing until inner
the foregoing procedures. race contacts shoulder on axle shaft fig. 4.
2. Pry out old seal with screwdriver. Use care to
avoid damage to bearing ball and especially the
inner race.
3. Thoroughly clean grease from bearing, using an
approved cleaning solvent, and inspect bearing for
damage. If the bearing was not previously noisy
and no damage can be detected, repack with a
high-melting point wheel bearing lubricant.

CAUTION: Fill only about 40 % of bearing

cavity with grease about 1 I2 teaspoonsful.
Packing bearing with more than recommended
quantity of lubricant will cause early failure.

4. Carefully start the new seal squarely onto the

bearing; then place a smooth, heavy metal plate Fig. 4-Installing Axle Shaft Wheel Bearing

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 REAR AXLE 5-3

PROPELLER SHAFTS AND UNIVERSAL JOINTS

MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENTS
UNIVERSAL JOINTS in the 1961 Passenger Car Shop Manual. Drive line
angles for the 1964 vehicle are as listed below.
The universal joints are of the lube-for-life design
and do not require periodic inspection or lubrication; ANGLE CHECK AND MEASUREMENT
however, when servicing components that require Front Joint Center Joint Rear Joint Axle to
disassembly of these universal joints, repack bearings Angle A Angle B* Angle C Frame Height
with a high-melting point wheel bearing lubricant and All Models Except SS
replace the trunnion assembly dust seals. and Sta. Wag. 2°40’ ± ½0 1°29’ ± 1/20 3°15’ ± ‘/2° 6.52" ± 1/4"
Station Wagons 1°40’ ± ‘/2° -2°17’ ± ½0 3°15’ ± ½° 7.65" ± ¼"
Super Sport 3°OO’ ± ½° ± ‘p4° 3°15’ ± 1/:° 5.64" ± ¼"
DRIVE LINE ANGLES *For all vehicles which are normally and continuously driven at maximum load
conditions, angle B may be increased approximately %0 to 1/20 in negative
Drive line adjustment procedures remain as outlined direction for more satisfactory results.

SERVICE OPERATIONS
PROPELLER SHAFTS

REPAIRS

Universal Joints
Removal and installation of bearing cap and trun
nion remains as outlined in 1961 Passenger Car Shop
Manual; however, redesign of trunnion and seal pro
vides a press fit between seal and trunnion.
Installation of trunnion dust seal is accomplished
as follows:
Place new seal on trunnion-cavity of seal toward
Fig. 5-Installing "U" Joint Trunnion Dust Seal
end of trunnion-then position Tool J-21548 over end
of trunnion and into cavity portion of seal. Press seal Note: Installation of seal is critical to proper
onto trunnion until Tool bottoms against trunnion sealing-use specified tool during installation
to prevent seal distortion and to assure proper
finger fig. 5. seating of seal on trunnion.

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