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Home >> Ford >> 2021 >> Edge ST-Line, FWD >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 190 (Front Drive Axle/Differential) >> General Procedures >> Ring Gear Backlash Adjustment

Ring Gear Backlash Adjustment

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Special Tool(s) / General Equipment 

GFD404936Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
205-430Collets, Differential Carrier Bearing | TKIT-1999-F/FLM/LT
GFD404937Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
205-431Retaining Ring, Differential Carrier Bearing | TKIT-1999-F/FLM/LT
GFD404938Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
205-432Step Plate, Differential Carrier Bearing | TKIT-1999-F/FLM/LT
GFD405141Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
205-D012 (D80L-630-1)Step Plate
GFD404929Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
205-D044 (D81T-4221-A)Installer, Differential Carrier Bearing
GFD404939Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
308-052 (T77J-7025-B)Remover/Installer, Bearing Tube
GFD404940Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
308-092 (T84T-7025-B)Removal Screw, Bearing Tube | TKIT-1984-F | TKIT-1984-FLM | TKIT-1984-LM
Dial Indicator
Wooden Block
Vise

Materials 

Name Specification
Motorcraft® High Performance Engine RTV SiliconeTA-357 WSE-M4G323-A6

Activation 

  1. NOTE: Be prepared to collect escaping fluid.

    Remove the bolts and the differential housing cover. Drain the lubricant.

    GFD405142Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  2. NOTE: Remove all of the silicone gasket and make sure the surfaces are free of oil before applying the new silicone gasket.

    Clean the gasket material from the differential housing and the differential housing cover. Refer to: RTV Sealing Surface Cleaning and Preparation .

    GFD405143Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  3. Install the dial indicator gauge with holding fixture, with the dial indicator at around 90 degree angle from the ring gear tooth.. Use the General Equipment: Dial Indicator
    GFD405144Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  4. Using the dial indicator check the ring gear backlash. Rotate the ring gear and carrier back and forth through the free play only. Refer to: Specifications . . Use the General Equipment: Dial Indicator
    GFD405145Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    • To correct for high or low backlash, increase the thickness of one differential bearing shim and decrease the thickness of the other differential bearing shim by the same amount.

    • If a zero backlash condition had occurred, add 0.50 mm (0.020 in) to the RH side shim and subtract 0.50 mm (0.020 in) from the LH side shim to allow a backlash indication. Recheck backlash.

    • Using the backlash chart, determine the thickness of differential shim needed: Refer to: Specifications .

  5. If a backlash correction is to be made, remove the axle shafts. Refer to: Axle Shaft .
  6. NOTE: Prior to removal, note the positioning of the stamped mating letters on the bearing caps and the differential housing for correct reassembly.

    Remove the bolts and the bearing caps.

    GFD405146Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  7. Using a pry bar and the general equipment, remove the differential assembly from the axle housing.. Use the General Equipment: Wooden Block
    GFD405147Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  8. NOTE: Place the component in the vise.

    Using the special tools, remove and discard the differential bearings. Use Special Service Tool: 205-430 Collets, Differential Carrier Bearing., 205-431 Retaining Ring, Differential Carrier Bearing., 205-432 Step Plate, Differential Carrier Bearing., 308-052 (T77J-7025-B) Remover/Installer, Bearing Tube., 308-092 (T84T-7025-B) Removal Screw, Bearing Tube.. Use the General Equipment: Vise

    GFD405148Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  9. NOTE: Wire the shims together and mark from which side they were removed.

    Remove the differential bearing shims.

    GFD405149Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  10. Position the differential case with the Dummy Bearing Set into the differential housing.
    GFD405150Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  11. NOTE: It is necessary to loosely install the bearing caps and bolts to hold the differential in place.
    NOTE: Make sure that the installation marks are aligned.

    Loosely install the differential bearing caps.

    GFD405151Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  12. Using the Dummy Bearing Set, Dial Indicator Gauge with Holding Fixture and Clutch Housing Gauge, determine the total thickness of differential bearing shims to install under the differential bearing on the ring gear side of the differential case. Record this measurement, as the shim thickness required for the ring gear side of the differential case.

    • Force the ring gear away from the pinion and zero the Dial Indicator Gauge.

    • Force the ring gear into mesh with the pinion. Rock the ring gear to allow the teeth of the gears to mesh.

    • Record the reading.

    GFD405152Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  13. NOTE: Prior to removal, note the positioning of the stamped mating letters on the bearing caps and the differential housing for correct reassembly.

    Remove the differential case and the Dummy Bearing Set from the differential housing.

    • Remove the Dummy Bearing Set from the differential case.

    GFD405146Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  14. Place the required thickness of differential bearing shims on the ring gear side of the differential case. Refer to the measurement recorded, as the shim thickness required for the ring gear side of the differential case.

    • For example, a reading of 1.14 mm (0.045 in), requires that 1.14 mm (0.045 in) shims be placed on the ring gear side of the differential case. For available differential bearing shims. Refer to: Specifications .

    GFD405153Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  15. Using a special tool, install the differential bearing. Use Special Service Tool: 205-D044 (D81T-4221-A) Installer, Differential Carrier Bearing.
    GFD405154Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  16. Determine the total thickness of differential bearing shims to install under the differential bearing on the drive pinion side of the differential case.

    • Subtract the measurement recorded, as the shim thickness required for the ring gear side of the differential case, from the total case end play measurement taken at the beginning of the assembly procedure. Then, add 0.38 mm (0.015 in) to the total. This is the total amount of differential bearing shims to install under the differential bearing on the drive pinion side of the differential case.

  17. Place the amount of differential bearing shims, as determined by the calculation made in the previous step, on the drive pinion side of the differential case.
    GFD405155Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  18. Using the special tools, install the differential bearing.

    • Place the Step Plate under the bearing to protect it during the bearing installation. Use Special Service Tool: 205-D012 (D80L-630-1) Step Plate.

    • Using a special tool, install the bearing. Use Special Service Tool: 205-D044 (D81T-4221-A) Installer, Differential Carrier Bearing.

    GFD405156Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  19. Position the differential bearing cups on the bearings.
    GFD405157Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  20. Position the differential carrier and bearing races along with shims in the axle housing.
    GFD405158Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  21. Install the bearing caps and the bolts.

    Torque: 80 lb.ft (108 Nm)

    GFD405151Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  22. Rotate the differential several times, to assure the differential assembly rotates freely.
    GFD405159Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  23. Using the dial indicator gauge with holding fixture, do a final check of the ring gear backlash. Measure the backlash at 3 equally spaced points.

    • The backlash must be within the specifications and cannot vary more than 0.05 mm (0.002 in) between points checked.

    • Make the necessary corrections by moving shims from one side of the differential case to the other, until the correct backlash adjustment is achieved.

    • Correct for low backlash by moving the ring gear away from the pinion.

    • Correct for high backlash by moving the ring gear toward the pinion.. Use the General Equipment: Dial Indicator

    GFD405145Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  24. Verify an acceptable ring gear tooth pattern check. Refer to: Front Drive Axle .
  25. Apply a new continuous bead of sealant to the differential housing cover as shown.

    Material: Motorcraft® High Performance Engine RTV Silicone / TA-357 (WSE-M4G323-A6)

    GFD405160Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
  26. Install the differential cover and differential cover bolts.

    Torque: 45 lb.ft (61 Nm)

GFD405142Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY