OK, I am about to do this. I have loosened the 2 passenger side bolts and nuts, and the one driver side bolt and nut, per the haynes manual. I have 2 questions concerning this:

1. is this the only driver side bolt I need out? See picture. Skid plate is now off.

2. Will i slide it forward, then lower it slowly with a jack? I dont want to be under there and unable to support this thing, I know it weighs about 150 pounds. Any tips on this are appreciated. And no, I don't have a transmission jack!

Thanks for your help.

 

There’s also a bolt on the top driver side - almost straight across from the top bolt on the passenger side (bracket to frame, not axle tube to bracket).

Also your truck may be different, but on some of them, I’ve had to remove the idler arm mount bolts, take the steering column off the gear box, and then remove the 2 lower gear box mount bolts to rotate the gear so the steering linkage drops down enough to allow the diff to clear.

Either way, the diff will have to rotate fully forward in order to clear the rear mount (the one you pictured).

 

Thanks, hope to get this done this weekend.