Pre-Disassembly Inspection
- Ring gear backlash, total bearing preload and gear tooth contact pattern should be checked before disassembling differential assembly. Record measurements for reassembly reference.
- To check ring gear backlash, mount differential assembly in soft-jawed vice. Remove oil filler plug and seal washer from differential case cover. Remove oil seal from differential case cover. Align inspection hole on differential carrier with oil filler plug hole.
- Install Wrench (07HAA-SF10100) in differential assembly. See Fig 1. Mount dial indicator on differential case.
- Measure ring gear backlash on differential carrier. Ring gear backlash should be .002-.006" (.06-.14 mm).
- If ring gear backlash is within specification, proper thickness thrust shims are installed behind bearing races for differential carrier bearings. Provided no components are changed, shim is okay. If ring gear backlash is not within specification, different thickness thrust shim must be installed during reassembly.
- To measure total bearing preload, install a dial-type INCH-lb. torque wrench on end of drive pinion. Rotate drive pinion and note total bearing preload. Total bearing preload, with used bearings, should be 21-26 INCH lbs. (2.4-3.0 N.m).NOTE: If total bearing preload is not within specification, different thickness shim must be installed behind bearing race for differential carrier bearings.
- To check gear tooth contact pattern, remove differential case cover bolts in a crisscross pattern. Remove differential case cover. See Figure. Clean and paint both sides of ring gear teeth with Prussian Blue.
- Install differential case cover. Install and tighten bolts in a crisscross pattern to 33 ft.lbs. (45 N.m). Install Wrench (07HAA-SF10100) in differential assembly. See Fig 1.
- Rotate ring gear both directions while applying resistance on drive pinion. Remove differential case cover and inspect ring gear tooth contact pattern. Correct gear tooth contact should be centered on the ring gear. See GEAR TOOTH CONTACT PATTERNS article in GENERAL INFORMATION.