So I have a cracked front driver side axle housing or differential housing. I took both sides off since the springs were crushed and the shocks were gone from the plow on the front. So ripped the old one out went and got another one from the junk yard and started swapping over parts to the newer none cracked axle housing and I can't seem to figure out how to get the axle shaft with the u joint out of the housing. Cant figure out how to seperate the ujoint. got the rest of the stuff swapped and ready to go just can't seem to be able to switch the axle shaft over. the one I got at the junk yard is longer then the one i have and need to swap it over. can't get the knuckle off either so kind of at a loss now. any help would be great!!!

 

You have to pull the spindle off the knuckle. I believe the axle shaft will just slide out then, the passenger side did.

 

Sorry, double post.

 

You need to remove hubs, rotors, and spindles on both sides. Once you have the spindles off, the drivers side axle shaft should pull out from the diff. Passenger side axle shaft will not pull out of the diff because it's held in by a C-clip. Pull that one apart at the slip joint.

Then you need to remove the diff from the axle housing. To do this, you need to remove the circle of bolts ln the front of the axle. (The ones that woild be the diff cover on a normal axle) Then there are also two larger bolts on the drivers side of the diff that hold it into the axle, you need to remove these too. Then the diff should come right off the back of the axle housing. Put a drain pan under it to catch the oil before removing it. The diff is very heavy so be careful when removing it.