I tried to search but didn't see much about installing spider gears. So anyway I was going to replace the passenger axel seal on my Escalade and I pulled the pin from the carrier, then I slowly started turning the carrier to get a good view of the window in the carrier so I could get to the c-clips, however I wasn't paying attention that great and didn't realize the spider gears were not turning. So now the carrier is no longer aligned with the spider gears and one of the shims on the spider gear actually fell out. So I'm scared to just go ahead and take the spider gears out in fear that I will never get them back in. I don't see how you would given the small window in the carrier housing. I guess I'm lucky in that the AWD escalade dosent have a G80 so I have a little more room to work.

Should I just go ahead and take the spider gears out, remove the axels and replace the seals, then try to put the spider gears back in with the shims (which would seem like a nightmare). Or am I missing something and there is an easier way?

I though you could just slowly rotate the carrier after removing the pin and everything would stay in place but I guess not. Apparently someone has already been in this diff since I see RTV on the cover.

This is where I'm at now, when I was turning it and not paying attention it turned until something locked up so I quit trying to turn it.



Thanks for the help.
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Just drop them out, they are not real tight when you go back in with them. Put the shim on the back of the gears and roll them in. I use the pin and line the gears up through the big window before i rotate them in position.

 

Thanks for the help, and thats what I did, I pulled the c-clip out too but for some reason the axle shaft still won't come out? I pulled the caliper completely off, I thought the only thing holding the axle shafts in on the semi-floating axles was the c clip? I guess i'm missing something else?

 

You may have to just get something behind the axle flange and pry it out. I have a slide hammer I use to pop them out when they stick sometimes.

 

Thank thanks, that's exactly what I had to do. now the seal is giving me even more trouble trying to get it out. The seal actually doesn't look like a stock one and with RTV being on the cover I think somebody may have already changed this seal but the seal itself looks fine to me:

But can feel a little wear on the axle shaft:

Does the shaft itself look worn, I can feel little ridges but I'm not sure it's enough to let it leak, I'm assuming it should be completely smooth feeling?

 

So I finally got The seal off I had to get a small screwdriver and hammer into it to get it off but it appears there's nothing wrong with it. Seal is a timken 4762N which I am assuming is not stock so I'm pretty sure somebody has already been in the differential before and replace the seal, this makes me really think that it's leaking from somewhere else, but I haven't heard of these axles having porosity or cracks and I know it's only leaking on the driver side.

 

Dammm I just did this work about 2 months ago... axle was also a pita to pry out but I got it done... my seal popped right out and I replaced it and stopped the leak... spider gears on the g80 stayed all in place so didn’t have to deal with putting everything back together

 

So I got it all back together. Its not that bad putting them back in if you take them out. I found the easiest way to do it was put the axles back in and the c clips, then turn the carrier to the side with the bigger window in the casting, take one spider gear and put it in mesh on the top side then let it go a few teeth down (don't try to line it up with the pin hole in the carrier yet you want it advanced a few teeth, then take the other spider gear and put it in mesh on the bottom and turn it to get it lined up with the pin hole, when you rotate the bottom spider gear it will move the top spider gear at the same time, if you "advanced" the first spider gear the right amount of teeth they should both line up with the pin at the same time. If not just take both spider gears out and try again with the first spider gear "advanced" more or less teeth.

Not sure how people with G80s are doing it with all the other stuff in the way though.

I got new brake pads and cleaned the slide pins too, unfortunately braking dosen't seem any better and it didn't fix any annoying noises either. I really didn't get a chance to clean everything up good either so now I really won't be able to tell if the leak stops after replacing the seal. I still am doubting my problem is the seal since the seals that were in there looked fine but the seals could have been leaking at the axle tube housing side and not the shaft. When I had the axle out I put the seal on it and put gear oil on top to see if gear oil would leak down with gravity past the seal and there were no leaks so I guess my axle shaft is good and not worn, it didn't feel too worn.

As a side note has anyone figure out the purpose of the dust shields on the ends of the axles? Mine have basically rusted off, my assumption is that they are to protect the brakes from getting mud and dirt in them even though it seems like they would still get mud and dirt in them just as easily if the shields weren't there?