The rear axle of a Ford F-350 does the heavy work for the truck. It contains multiple gears and components that allow the drive train to turn the rear wheels. Should any of these components fail, you won't be able to drive the F-350 correctly. To fix the problem, remove the rear axle and reinstall it once everything is repaired. This process involves some heavy lifting and will take several hours to do correctly.
Put wheel chocks around the front wheels of the F-350. Position a heavy-duty jack under the axle and use the jack to lift up the rear of the truck. Then put heavy-duty jack stands under the frame and the rear axle. Remove the rear wheels using a tire iron and set them out of the workspace. Open the driver's door. Pull down the cable leading to the emergency cable using your hand. Remove the emergency brake cable from the back of the emergency brake pedal with your hands.
Unbolt the parking brake cable bracket from the driver's side of the frame with a 1/2-inch ratchet and socket. Remove the brake line leading to the axle with a line wrench. Unbolt the brake line bracket from the axle with the 1/2-inch ratchet and socket.
Unbolt the shocks from the axle with the 1/2-inch ratchet and socket. Unbolt the sway bar from the frame with the 1/2-inch ratchet and socket. Unbolt the drive line from the axle with the 1/2-inch ratchet and socket and unbolt the U-bolts holding the axle to the leaf springs with the 1/2-inch ratchet and socket. Lower the axle off the jack stands using the jack. Slide the axle out from under the truck using the jack.
Slide the repaired axle under the truck and lift it onto jack stands using the heavy-duty jack. Secure the shocks, leaf springs and sway bar to the axle and frame with the 1/2-inch ratchet and socket.
Install the emergency brake line bracket to the frame with the 1/2-inch ratchet and socket and install the brake line cable back into the emergency brake bracket with your hands. Install the brake line bracket to the axle with the 1/2-inch ratchet and socket and reinstall the brake line to the axle with a line wrench. Reinstall the rear wheels with the tire iron and lower the truck off of the jack stands using the heavy-duty jack.
