Had my rear slave cylinder blowout and when I pulled the wheel, the drum looked twisted in reference to the backing plate. Once I got the drum off and did some measurements, it would appear that the axle is bent. On my older f250's there were four bolts to remove and the axle slid out. On the '98 it looks like those four bolts only hold the backing plate. How do I go about pulling the axle. Also, has anyone had to buy a 7 lug axle ? Does Ford still make them ? Im very scared...lol

 

I have a 98' but it is a half ton. On mine you take the diff. cover off, take the bolt out of the large pin, slide that big pin out. Then either axle can be pulled out. That pin also holds the spiders on, and under each spider is a cupped washer. If you turn either axle even a little bit with that pin out, the spiders fall out. Not a big deal, but you have to fiddle some to "walk" them back in place...(don't forget the cupped washer that also goes under it). Mine is the 8.8, so yours may be different in some ways. I have also found it way easier to buy a $6.00 diff. gasket rather than the black RTV method...especially when you take it off next time.