Ford: 1999 ford rear axle shaft, rear axle shaft, rear brake drums

Question
I am trying to remove the rear axle shaft on a 1999 ford F150 truck and i understand that there is the c-clip to remove but there is also a spring like thing holding the gears in palce and I can`t get the axle shaft in far enough to get hold of the c-clip to remove it what should i doÉ

Answer
Removal


Raise and support the vehicle,
Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
Remove the differential housing cover and drain the lubricant.
Remove the rear brake drums.


 





Remove the differential pinion shaft.
1 Remove and discard the differential pinion shaft lock bolt.
2 Remove the differential pinion shaft.



 





CAUTION: Do not damage the rubber O-rings in the axle shaft grooves. Remove the U-washers.
1 Push the axle shafts.
2 Remove the U-washers.



 





CAUTION: Do not damage the inner wheel bearing oil seal. Remove the two axle shafts.
Installation


Lubricate the lip of the inner wheel bearing oil seal.
Use Premium Long-Life Grease XG-1-C or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESA-M1C75-B.


 





CAUTION: Do not damage the inner wheel bearing oil seal. Install the two axle shafts.


 





CAUTION: Do not damage the rubber O-rings in the U-washer grooves. Install the U-washers.
1 Position the two U-washers on the button end of the axle shafts.
2 Pull the axle shafts outward.



 





NOTE: If a new pinion shaft lock bolt is unavailable coat the threads with Thread lock and Sealer E0AZ-19554-AA or equivalent meeting Ford specifications WSK-M2G315-A5 and ESE-M4G204-A2 prior to installation. Install the differential pinion shaft.
1 Align the hole in the differential pinion shaft with the case lock bolt hole.
2 Install a new differential pinion shaft lock bolt.

Install the rear brake drums.
Install the differential housing cover and fill the rear axle housing with 2.37 liters (5 pints) of Motorcraft Synthetic Rear Axle Lubricant F1TZ-19580-B or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSL-M2C192-A.
WARNING: Always remove any corrosion, dirt or foreign material present on the mounting surfaces of the wheel or the surface of the wheel hub or brake drum that contacts the wheel. Installing wheels without correct metal-to-metal contact at the wheel mounting surfaces can cause the lug nut to loosen and the wheel to come off while the vehicle is in motion, causing loss of control. Clean the wheel hub and mounting surfaces.
Install the tire and wheel assembly.