GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Differential Carrier Assemble FWD Only

Special Tools

J 36850 Assembly Lubricant or equivalent

For equivalent regional tools, refer to Special Tools.


    Object Number: 10599  Size: SH
  1. Affix the differential side gear thrust washers (706) to the side gears (705). Apply J 36850 lubricant or equivalent.
  2. Install the side gears (705) with the thrust washers into the differential carrier housing (700).
  3. Affix the differential pinion thrust washers (703) to the pinion gears (704). Apply J 36850 lubricant or equivalent.
  4. Install the pinion gears with thrust washers into the differential carrier housing (700). Rotate the pinion gears into position.
  5. Install the differential pinion shaft (701) into the differential carrier housing.

  6. Object Number: 10600  Size: SH
  7. Align the hole in the pinion gear shaft (701) to the hole in the differential carrier housing (700).
  8. Use a drift punch and a mallet in order to install the pinion gear shaft pin (702) into the differential carrier housing (700).

  9. Object Number: 10601  Size: SH
  10. Apply J 36850 lubricant or equivalent to the inside of a differential carrier planetary pinion gear (711).
  11. For each planetary pinion gear, insert a bearing roller spacer (710) onto the pin (712). The spacer must be inserted between the two rows of bearing rollers.

  12. Object Number: 10602  Size: SH
  13. For each planetary pinion gear, assemble the bearing rollers (709) into the gear (711) one at a time.
  14. • Use plenty of J 36850 lubricant or equivalent in order to aid assembly
    • Use a washer (708) on the bottom of the pinion gear (711) in order to help hold the bearing rollers (709) in place.
    • The number of rollers in the pinion gear is model dependent:
       - The 3.05/3.06 and 3.29/3.33 ratio differential carriers have two rows of 22 rollers (44 total)
       - The 2.86/2.84 ratio differential carriers have two rows of 18 rollers (36 total)
    • Occasionally twist the pinion gear pin (712) in order to help align the rollers

    Object Number: 10603  Size: SH
  15. Install the differential carrier sun gear thrust bearing (698) into the carrier housing.
  16. Remove each planetary pinion gear pin (712) from its pinion gear (711). Be careful not to move the rollers out of position.
  17. Affix two pinion gear thrust washers (708) on each side of the pinion gear (711). Apply J 36850 lubricant or equivalent.
  18. Note: Make sure that the pinion is installed in the same way that it was removed. If the gear is installed upside down, noise may result, because of the change in the gear wear pattern.

  19. Install the pinion gear assemblies (711) into the carrier housing (700).
  20. Install each planetary pinion gear pin (712).
  21. Install the snap ring (699) over the planetary pinion gear pins.