changed out the RR axle shaft and bearing...a few thoughts here

[Agent2006]

Hello,

there's plenty of good videos out there so I wont torture you with inferior cell phone pix :

• SYMPTOMS :Noise , inside rim of mag wheel is damp with axle oil, jack up the car pull upwards/down on the wheel and there's 1/8" play
• CAREFUL getting the ABS sensor out it is plastic with a magnet in the center. You WILL break it if you try to pry on it, tap it out from the fron through the backing plate is your only hope
• Take a few pix of how the emergency brake assembly goes together, one lighter continuous spring by the adjuster goes in front of the shoe center line the other (heavy dual coils connected by a straight piece of wire ) spring at the cable connection point goes BEHIND the shoes. Both springs are vertical. light spring goes outside the adjuster. Heavy dual coil spring make sure the straight part faces away from the axle not towards the cent, because it will touch the ABS ring that way.
• The 2003 service manual is not much help, neither are most of the videos they gloss over this step
• Note how the e-brake cable has a hook on a hinge connects to the e brake cable.
• bolts holding the rear cover on are acorn shaped 1/2" not metric
• make sure the fill plug can come loose before you begin, it is a 3/8" square put a ratchet in there
• That bolt holding the axle pin is 8mm and blue permatexed on there , really hard to break loose
• Need a slide hammer to remove the old bearing AND axle bearing fitting. The jaws etc wont work, need this teeter/totter thing screws into the hammer shaft
• Might as well order new e-brake shoes the old ones will be soaked
• You'll wind up taking the e-brake hardware off, don't think you can shortcut this, the axle wont slide in far enough
• Make sure the new axle has an ABS tone ring. One listed for our car on rock auto does not have the ring. Cannot see from the picture.
• Bearing diameter is 1 1/2" to get the proper driver, or use a 36 mm socket and be careful
• Use green label Permatex/axle oil proof-on the cover-but it will look grey coming out of the tube
• If you use conventional axle oil 80-140W 2 qts you'll need ford additive for full synthetic I think it is in there

Took several hours, tried not to break stuff...mostly succeeded (except the $95 ABS sensor!)

[SilverPhoenix]

Took several hours, tried not to break stuff...mostly succeeded (except the $95 ABS sensor!)

Meh, you don't need a sensor...you know your MM has anti-lock brakes.

Thanks for the write-up that other folks can use as a guide...

[justbob]

Unless your e brake is saturated in gear lube and already garbage then you do not have to remove any of it. This will save you a good deal of time. Just rotate the axle slightly to avoid hitting the backside of the wheel studs on anything and it will go in plenty far enough to remove the C clip easily with just a magnet.


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