Ok so I have removed both tires/Shocks/Starter/Exhaust. The axle is fully drooped without dropping it to the ground or really close to it. The oil pan still hits the transmission and it almost seems like it is getting caught on the oil pickup? I cant seem to get the axle low enough to clear the oil pick up. Any help? I have read all of the forums I could read and everyone seems to get this out much easier than I am.

I have it jacked up by the bumper and have the uniframe on jack stands behind the arms on both sides. I have tried jacking up the transmission some but it doesnt give me much clearance.

My rear main seal drips alot of oil so I figured I should replace it. I am a hobby mechanic but am frustrated. I have spent 3 different days trying to twist it out.

Removing the shocks was a bonus... bought replacement shocks and planned on replacing them anyways.

 

Remove the steering stabilizer. That was what was holding my oil pan up.

 

Ok I notice it hitting.... I took off the nut but cannot get the bolt to go through to take off that end of the stabilizer. Any tips?

 

Tap it with a hammer. It will move.

 

When you take off the nut with the clip you just need to tap it through right?

 

You only have to remove the bolt the oil pan is hitting. It will twist out of the way.

 

It should be a castle nut with a cotter pin. Take the cotter pin out, remove the nut, the pop the bolt with a hammer.

 

Ok I removed that nut and pin and just have the bolt... I have hit it almost as hard as I can and cannot for the life of me get it to push through....

 

Take a pic of the bolt you are referring to.

 

You should be taking the bolt out that is missing a nut here. I borrowed this picture.

 

Yup thats it... so I just need to hit the bolt harder then... lol Thanks for the pic!

 

That's a tapered joint if I remember correctly. Treat it like a tie rod - Hit the tie rod round or use a tie rod separator.

 

I was going to just hammer the end of the bolt and force it up and out?

 

Let the pan drop back as far as you can til it pretty much rests on the axle. Turn the passenger side up and the passenger rear side slightly towards the passenger side. Rotate it that way so the front drivers side of the pan goes towards the drivers side and down slightly, then pop it past the stabilizer bolt. Reverse rotation once its past and bring the rear down/under the tranny, then out.

I think that's how I eventually got mine. It took lots of cursing and a busted swaybar link though.

 

Got the bolt off hammered it through. So the oil pan is still getting stuck between the axle and transmission... I think its actually stuck on the oil pickup... Any tips for that? I have have tires off and axle drooping with no shocks.