GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

DIFFERENTIAL REPLACEMENT-125 DRIVERS-AXLE SIDE GEAR LOOSE

IT HAS BEEN NOTED BY SOME TECHNICIANS THAT THE SIDE GEAR CLEARANCE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF A DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER IS GREATER THAN THE CLEARANCE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE PROPER CLEARANCE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CARRIER IS .023" TO .032", AND THE PROPER CLEARANCE FOR THE RIGHT SIDE IS .002" TO .005". CARRIERS SHOULD NOT BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF LOOSENESS ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE LOOSE FIT ON THE LEFT SIDE IS CORRECT, AS THE LEFT SIDE GEAR IS CENTERED THROUGH BACKLASH WITH ITS MATING GEARS (DIFFERENTIAL PINIONS), THUS PREVENTING CARRIER WEAR IN THE LEFT SIDE GEAR BORE.

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