Ring Gear To Drive Pinion Backlash: Notes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Nissan Murano. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Drain the oil.
Remove the rear cover. Refer to REMOVAL OF DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY .
Following the procedure below, install a dummy cover set to the gear carrier.
Tool Number: KV381086S1 (-)
1. Fit dummy cover shims to the right and left side bearing adjusting shims.
  
  Fig 1: Identifying Dummy Cover Bolts
  Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
2. Temporarily tighten a dummy cover to the gear carrier.
3. Position a dummy cover spacer to the dummy cover.
4. Tighten rear cover mounting bolts to the specified torque.
  31 - 36 N.m (3.2 - 3.6 kg-m, 23 - 26 ft-lb)
5. Tighten dummy cover spacer mounting bolts evenly the specified torque.
  : 5.9 N.m (0.6 kg-m, 52 in-lb)
Fit a dial gauge to the ring gear face to measure the backlash.

Fig 2: Measuring Backlash By Dial Gauge
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.

Backlash: 0.10 - 0.15 mm (0.0039 - 0.0059 in)

If outside the standard, change the thickness of the side bearing adjusting shims.
When the backlash is large:

Make the ring gear back adjusting shims thicker, and the ring gear front adjusting shims thinner.

When the backlash is small:

Make the ring gear back adjusting shims thinner, and the ring gear front adjusting shims thicker.