Axle Assembly: Removal

All vehicles 

1. Remove the front driveshaft. Refer to: Front Driveshaft .
2. Remove the front halfshafts. Refer to: Halfshaft .

   All vehicles except 3.0L Diesel 

3. Remove the bolt and the spacer from the front underbody skid plate.

   Torque: 41 lb.ft (55 Nm)

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4. If equipped. Remove the bolts and the front underbody skid plate.

   Torque: 35 lb.ft (48 Nm)

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5. If equipped.
   1. Remove the bolts.

      Torque: 35 lb.ft (48 Nm)

   2. Remove the bolts and the middle underbody skid plate.

      Torque: 35 lb.ft (48 Nm)

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6. If equipped. Remove the bolts and the rear underbody skid plate.

   Torque: 35 lb.ft (48 Nm)

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7. If equipped. Remove the bolts and the rear underbody shield.

   Torque: 30 lb.ft (40 Nm)

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8. If equipped. Remove the bolts and the rear underbody shield.

   Torque: 30 lb.ft (40 Nm)

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9. If equipped. Remove the engine front underbody shield.
   1. Remove the bolts.

      Torque: 30 lb.ft (40 Nm)

   2. Remove the bolts.

      Torque: 71 lb.in (8 Nm)

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10. Using a holding device, hold the steering wheel in the straight-ahead position.

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11. NOTE: Do not reuse steering column shaft bolts. This may result in fastener failure and steering column shaft detachment or loss of steering control. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious injury to vehicle occupant(s).
    1. Remove and discard the steering column shaft bolt.

       Torque: 22 lb.ft (30 Nm)

    2. Separate the steering column shaft U-joint from the steering gear.

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12. Remove the steering gear boot.

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13. Remove the nuts, bolts and the crossmember.

    Torque: 66 lb.ft (90 Nm)

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    3.0L Diesel Only 

14. Remove the steering gear. Refer to: Steering Gear .
15. Remove the nuts, bolts and the crossmember.

    Torque: 66 lb.ft (90 Nm)

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16. Remove the bolt and the vibration damper from the front differential.

    Torque: 22 lb.ft (30 Nm)

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    Vehicles equipped with 3.5L and 5.0L excludes Raptor 

17. NOTE: 3.5L Shown, 5.0L similar.

    Remove the nut and position the transmission cooler tube bracket aside.

    Torque: 106 lb.in (12 Nm)

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18. Remove the nut and position the transmission cooler tube bracket and wiring harness aside.

    Torque: 106 lb.in (12 Nm)

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19. Remove the pin-type retainer and position the transmission cooler tube aside.

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20. Remove the bolt and position the transmission cooler tube aside.

    Torque: 27 lb.in (3 Nm)

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21. Remove the transmission cooler bracket bolt.

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22. Remove the bolts and position the transmission cooler down.

    Torque: 22 lb.ft (30 Nm)

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    All vehicles 

23. Remove and discard the front axle tube bushing bolt and flagnut.

    Torque: 111 lb.ft (150 Nm)

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24. NOTE: The transmission jack is not shown for clarity.

    Using the transmission jack for support, remove and discard the front axle housing bushing bolt. Use the General Equipment: Transmission Jack

    Torque: 111 lb.ft (150 Nm)

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25. Disconnect the front differential breather hose and position aside.

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26. 1. With the transmission jack in place to secure the front differential, remove and discard the front axle housing bushing bolt. Use the General Equipment: Transmission Jack

       Torque: 129 lb.ft (175 Nm)

    2. Remove and discard the T-nut.

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27. Lower the transmission jack and the remove the front axle assembly. Use the General Equipment: Transmission Jack

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