GM 12479335
Differential Cover, Rear

To replace the Differential carrier assembly cover or gasket first, i need to raise and support the vehicle. Next, dispose of the engine protection shield (EPS) if it exists and drain the front Differential assembly. Next, unbolt the Differential cover bolts, remembering that the front Differential housing cover gasket is reusable and will only need to be replaced if damaged. Then remove the Differential cover and gasket. For installation, replace the Differential cover and gasket to normal, taking note of the fastener notice in service precautions and torque the Differential cover bolts to 30 nm (22 ft. Lbs.). Top up the front Differential with fluid, re-install the eps if so equipped, and lastly lower the vehicle.

The first step to replace the rear axle housing cover and gasket requires vehicle lift. First remove the bolt securing the rear brake pipe retainer and the bolt securing the mounting bracket before removing the brackets from the rear axle cover. Position a drain pan properly under the axle while you remove the differential housing bolts for the rear cover and the cover and gasket together from the differential housing. Drain the rear axle. Start by cleaning the contact areas on the rear cover and gasket and differential housing. Then place the retainer and mounting bracket of the rear brake pipe into position before tightening the mounting bolt by hand. After preparing the axle housing cover and gasket you should bolt the mounting hardware in place before using a torque wrench to tighten each bolt to 30 N.m (22 lb ft). The retaining bolt for the brake pipe retainer should be installed at a torque of 20 N.m (14 lb ft). Drain fluid into the rear axle before lowering down the vehicle.

One must lift the vehicle above ground as a starting point for replacing the rear axle housing cover along with its gasket. The brake pipe retainer bolt and the mounting bracket bolt need removal to detach the rear axle cover mounting brackets. Start by putting a suitable drain pan beneath the axle then eliminate the rear cover mounting bolts from the differential housing before extracting the rear cover with gasket. Drain the rear axle. Begin by cleaning the contact locations of the rear cover along with its gasket and differential housing before installing the rear brake pipe retainer and mounting bracket combination. Proceed with the manual installation of the mounting bracket bolt before tightening it. Place the axle housing cover alongside the gasket into position after you have properly installed its mounting bolts and tightened them to 30 N.m (22 lb ft). The retaining bolt for the brake pipe retainer requires tightening to 20 N.m (14 lb ft). Both fluid must be added to the rear axle and the vehicle needs to be lowered at the end.

Before you start the process of replacing the rear axle housing cover and gasket you need to elevate the vehicle and uninstall the bolt holding the rear brake pipe retainer and then the bolt of the mounting bracket before taking off the mounting brackets attached to the rear axle cover. Drain the rear axle by placing a suitable container underneath the axle and then remove the differential housing mounting bolts to detach the rear cover along with its gasket. Beginning with a cleaning process of the contact surfaces on the rear cover and gasket along with differential housing continues to the installation of both the rear brake pipe retainer and bracket followed by torquing the mounting bolt by hand. After which you should install the axle housing cover together with its gasket while making sure all mounting bolts receive a 30 N.m torque of 20 lb ft. For the brake pipe retainer the retaining bolt requires tightening to 20 N.m (14 lb ft). Complete the fluid filling process in the rear axle before lowering down the vehicle.

Install the retaining bolt for the brake pipe retainer and tighten it to 20 Nm (14 ft. lbs.).