Can you rebuild the front axle disconnect without removing it from the oil pan?

[c good]

Luckily, for now my axle disconnect is working fine. I engage it monthly to keep things working.

I've seen horror stories about trying to remove them from the oil pan housing when they need replacement.

If I want to do some preventative maintenance, is it possible to service it with our removing it from the oil pan?

 

[Mooseman]

I suppose it could be done however I haven't heard of, or remember, being done this way. The next time you are working in this area, especially if pulling the axle, I'd try to remove it and take it apart to clean out the old grease and refresh it. When re-installing, clean the bore in the pan and on the disconnect and add some antiseize.

If it is difficult to remove, we do have a thread about that:
Hard to remove front disconnect
If it is stuck in the pan, the way to get it out is to make it rotate in the pan to break the corrosion free, as per post #7 in that thread.

 

[flyboy2610]

To remove it, after you have the car jacked up and the CV axle removed, unbolt the bolts holding the disconnect to the oil pan. Now remove the 4 13mm bolts holding the fake plastic skid pan to the bottom of the truck. You now have a clear shot at the underside of the disconnect. Use a hammer and gently tap one side upwards. It won't go very far, but it doesn't need to. Now tap the other side upwards. Do this a couple of times.
Now gently tap the disconnect outwards towards the steering knuckle. Don't go too far, just until it moves. Now tap it back in. Tap it back out a bit farther, then tap it back in again. Repeat this process, tapping it out a little farther each time until it pops out.
It probably took longer to type this than it would to tap out the disconnect. Trying to pry it out by brute force is a good way to break it!
When you reinstall it use some anti-seize around the edge.

 

[Mooseman]

Oh and spray a liberal amount of penetrating lube all around it.