If the rear differential on the 53 is the same as a 54... 1. Drain the rear differential. 2. Remove the cover. 3. Remove the wheels and brake drums. 4. If you pull and push on the axle shaft (from the hub) you will notice a small amount of play. 5. Look in the open differential. You will see a carrier in the center and it will have two "differential side" gears - these are on a plane from drivers side to passenger side. One connected to each axle shaft. Between these two gears you will see a spacer block. Also in the carrier you will have two more gears "differential pinion gears" - depending on the orientation of the carrier they will be on a vertical or fore - aft plane. These are on the other two faces of the spacer block. 6. If you rotate the carrier you will see a pin about 1/2 to 3/4 diameter - that goes through the differential pinion gears. At one end of this pin you will see a bolt the goes through the side of the carrier. This is the retainer for the pin. I believe this bolt is on the passenger side of the carrier. Remove this bolt. 7. Now this is where you need to be careful. With a mallet and a punch/drift gently begin to tap the pin out. Once it starts moving you should be able to rotate the carrier and grab the protruding end and gently rotate and pull and it should move. Be careful to try to keep the gears and their bushings together, so you can install the correct gear with it's bushing in the same location. 8. Once the pin, spacer block and differential pinion gears are out. Go to either the drivers or passengers side and push the axle shaft in - toward the differential. You may hear a clink sound - if so the clip that retains the axle fell out - make sure to retrieve it from the bottom of the differential housing. If the clip does not fall out - go back to the differential housing and look at the face of the side gear. You may have to push the side gear back onto the axle shaft a bit but you will see a "C" shaped retainer clip. Remove the clip and the side gear will slide off. 9. The axle shaft is now free and can be removed. 10. REPLACE YOUR SEALS - while you are in this far. 11. Reverse this for reassebly. 12. The only reassembly difficulty is getting the gears/bushings/spacer block/pin all realligned - just be patient. Anyone - add whatever I missed. Hope this helps.
Freinds Across The Pond.... Neil ; Never ! You know better than that I'm just feeling mischiveous to-day , or at least I was until the upper radiator neck on my Mercedes broke off as I was going to my Chiropractor after work to-day I was able to jury - rig it and make it home O.K. , the Good Dr. carried a 5 gallon jug of waterto my car in the street and watched with his wife as I patched it up..... Dang plastic radiators ! I'd just finished cleaning all the rust and scale out of it too , good thing it didn't break off during my recent desert road trip Now I gotta go further into hock buying a new one to-morrow .
Nate Wherever you are right this moment, look up...................................... See....... ive got very important friends up there fella, jus remember that
