Caution: To prevent personal injury and/or component damage, support the differential
case when removing the case from the axle housing. If the case is not supported,
the differential case could fall and cause personal injury or damage to the
differential case.
- Remove the differential assembly, if necessary.
- Measure the rotating torque of the drive pinion bearing using an inch-pound
torque wrench.
Specification
The rotating torque of the drive pinion should be 1.7-3.4 N·m
(15-30 lb in) for new bearings or 1.1-2.3 N·m
(10-20 lb in) for used bearings.
- If the rotating torque of the drive pinion is less than 1.7 N·m
(15 lb in) for new bearings or 1.1 N·m (10 lb in)
for used bearings, tighten the pinion in small increments until the specified rotating
torque is obtained.
- If the rotating torque of the drive pinion is greater than 3.4 N·m
(30 lb in) for new bearings or 2.3 N·m (20 lb in)
for used bearings, remove the drive pinion and replace the collapsible spacer and
re-install the drive pinion. Refer to
Drive Pinion Bearings Replacement
.
- Install the differential assembly, if necessary.
- Support the differential assembly in order to prevent the differential
assembly from falling out of the axle housing.
Important: Do not force the ring gear into contact with the drive pinion.
- Slide the differential case assembly towards the right side axle housing until
the ring gear contacts the drive pinion.
This is the ZERO backlash point.
If the ZERO backlash cannot be obtained, turn the differential bearing adjuster
nut into the axle housing using the J 24429
until the ring gear fully contacts the drive pinion to obtain the ZERO
backlash.
- While holding the ring gear against the pinion, turn the differential
bearing adjuster nut out from the axle housing using the J 24429
until it contacts the differential side bearing.
- Turn the adjuster nut out from the axle housing an additional 2 slots
using the J 24429
in order to
obtain the initial backlash adjustment.
- Install the adjuster nut lock and the adjuster nut lock bolt.
- Remove the left side differential bearing cap bolts.
- Remove the left side differential bearing cap.
- Install the J 22779
into
the left side axle housing between the differential bearing bore and the differential
bearing cup.
Important: Over-tightening may spread the axle housing and result in incorrect shim selection.
- Tighten the knob of the J 22779
until there is moderate drag when the J 22779
is moved.
- Remove the J 22779
.
- Measure the J 22779
in
3 locations.
- Calculate the average of the 3 measurements.
The resulting value is the shim thickness required in order to set the initial
backlash of the differential assembly.
- Select a service shim of approximately the same thickness to install into
the axle housing.
Verify the thickness of the service shim using a micrometer.
- Install the service shim into the axle housing between the differential
bearing bore and the differential bearing cup.
- Install the left side differential bearing cap.
- Install the left side differential bearing cap bolts.
Tighten the differential bearing cap bolts finger-tight. Do not torque the bolts
at this time.
- Remove the differential bearing adjuster nut lock bolt.
- Remove the differential bearing adjuster nut lock.
- Firmly tighten the differential bearing adjuster nut using the J 24429
in order to force the differential case assembly
into solid contact with the service shim.
- Rotate the pinion several times in order to seat the bearings.
- Loosen the differential bearing adjuster nut using the J 24429
until the nut is free from the differential
side bearing.
- Tighten the differential bearing adjuster nut using the J 24429
until the differential bearing adjuster nut
contacts the bearing.
- Once the right differential bearing adjuster contacts the differential
bearing, tighten the differential bearing adjuster nut using the J 24429
the following additional amounts:
Tighten
• | For new bearings, tighten the differential bearing adjuster nut an additional
3 slots. |
• | For used bearings, tighten the differential bearing adjuster nut an additional
2 slots. |
- Install the right differential bearing adjuster nut lock.
- Install the right differential bearing adjuster nut lock bolt.
Do not torque the bolt at this time.
Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in the Preface section.
- Tighten the bearing cap bolts.
Tighten
Tighten the bearing cap bolts to 85 N·m (63 lb ft).
- Tighten the differential bearing adjuster nut lock bolt.
Tighten
Tighten the differential bearing adjuster nut lock bolt to 26 N·m(19 lb ft).
- Measure the drive pinion and differential case side bearing preload using
an inch-pound torque wrench.
Rotate the pinion several times to ensure the bearings have seated.
Specification
The rotating torque of the drive pinion and differential case bearings should
be 3.9-6.2 N·m (30-55 lb in) for new bearings
or 2.8-5.1 N·m (25-45 lb in) for used bearings.
Record the measurement.
- Calculate the differential side bearing preload by subtracting the drive
pinion preload, measured in Step 2, from the drive pinion and differential case bearing
preload, measured in Step 33.
Multiply the value obtained by the axle ratio.
Specification
The differential case side bearing preload should be 1.7-4.0 N·m
(15-35 lb in).
- If the differential case side bearing preload is not within specifications,
increase or decrease the shim thickness as necessary in order to increase/decrease
the side bearing preload.
- Once the differential side bearing preload is correct, measure the drive
pinion to differential assembly backlash and adjust, if necessary. Refer to
Backlash Adjustment
.