I'm pulling the axle out of a wrecked 85 to sell. I wanted to include as many parts as are needed. I'm running into some troubles so just a couple quick questions.

1. How do the springs come off the truck? The pin/bolt will not budge....actually I just thought of something...do I have to drop the rear shackle of the springs off the frame rail in order to slide out the front bolt?
Or is the donor truck going to use new springs and mounts and I'm wasting my time trying to get these off?


2. When removing the axle do I detach the steering arms from each end and leave it with the truck? or do I try to get the ridiculously large arm to come free of the splines on the steering box? (The tie-rod end isn't breaking free...and the big arm won't come off either)

3. All the gear oil leaked out of the knuckle when I cranked it at a sharp angle...both sides, is this normal or is the entire thing hooped?
I am assuming once it is installed it is impossible to crank it that far and all the oil will stay inside there

 

Be careful--this is actually pretty straight forward pulling a straight axle.
**Make sure you have the truck supported with jack stands on a level surface before you do anything.

1) cut the bolts, if someone is going a SAS they will more than likely be using new stuff. The front springs are more than likely shot..

2) try to leave as much stuff intact as you can, they are probably gonna convert to high steer anyway since the stock push pull steering sucks. but having the stock components won't hurt. Undo the draglink from the pitman arm (that is what swings on steering box)

3) it is a 25 year old axle, it is gonna need to be rebuild. felts are worn along with the inner axle seal, there should not be oil in the knuckle ball, just grease but very common for the gear oil and grease to mix due to worn parts

if you still have questions, down load the Service Manual using the link in my sig.

 

I have undone that big 32mm nut but it won't come apart...do I need to get a pickle fork in there? I didn't want to yard on it too much because I wasn't sure if there was a more holding it on

It was definitely gear oil that came out....maybe half a liter each side....all over my floor...it looked like it was coming out of the bottom of the knuckle ball.

As for the springs....I'm still working on trying to drop th rear...but does the front bolt pop out or does teh whole spring have to twist to a different angle? it looks like there are 3 pins grooves that have to line up before it slides out

will do thanks