1942 - 1947 Chevrolet Shop Manual



	4-1

	*Section 4* REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY

	PASSENGER CAR REAR AXLE The Passenger Car rear axle is of the semi-floating type with the Hypoid gears mounted in a one-piece banjo-type housing as has been used on previous models, Fig. 1.	There arc also two very important and essential points which all service men must keep in mind when working on rear axles. First—absolute cleanliness must be observed, and second—factory limits, clearances, and specifications must be maintained. MINOR SERVICE OPERATIONS To Remove and Replace Rear Wheel Remove the hub cap by inserting a screwdriver between the inside edge of the hub cap and the wheel hub flange and turning the screwdriver until the cap becomes loose. Remove the hub nuts which are on the inside of the wheel hub. The wheel can now be lifted from the bolts which are attached to the axle shaft flange. To replace the rear wheel, place it over the hub bolts and assemble the hub nuts with the tapered ends toward the inside of the hub. The tapered ends of these nuts must fit into the recesses provided for them in the wheel hub.


	Fig. 2—Rear Brake Drum Retaining Nuts Identification of Rear Axles The standard rear axle gear ratio on the Fleetline, Fleetmaster and Stylemaster is 4.11 to 1. This axle may be identified by a serial number stamped on the top right-hand side of the differential carrier and prefixed by the letters "2AG." "2AJ" or "BG." An optional rear axle is available for passenger cars, having a gear ratio of 3.73 to 1. This axle may be identified by a serial number prefixed by the letters "2AH," "2AP" or "BH." REPAIR OPERATIONS In rear axle service work there are minor and major operations. Minor operations such as the removal of axle shafts, the replacement of brake drums, etc., can be performed with the axle under the car. Major operations, such as the replacement of ring gear and pinion, the replacement of propeller shaft, etc., must be performed with the axle out of the car, because it is impossible to obtain the correct pinion depth with the third member in the axle housing.
		Fig. 3—Removing Axle Shaft Spacer To Remove and Replace Axle Shaft Assembly Remove the wheel as described above. Remove the two stamped brake drum retaining nuts (Zipon-type) from the two wheel, or hub, bolts. The location of these two retainer nuts is shown in Fig. 2.