PINION GEAR/RING GEAR
REMOVAL
NOTE: The ring gear and pinion are serviced in a matched set. Never replace one gear without replacing the matching gear.
1. Remove differential from axle housing.
2. Place differential case in vise with soft metal jaw protectors.
3. Remove ring gear bolts (1) and drive ring gear (2) off differential case with a soft hammer.
4. Hold pinion flange with Wrench C-3281 and remove pinion nut.
5. Remove pinion flange with two jaw puller.
6. Remove pinion from housing with a soft hammer (1).
7. Remove pinion seal with a pry tool or slide-hammer mounted screw.
8. Remove oil slinger if equipped and front pinion bearing.
9. Remove front pinion bearing cup with Remover C-4345 (1) and Handle C-4171 (2).
10. Remove rear bearing cup from housing with Remover C-4307 (1) and Handle C-4171 (2).
11. Remove collapsible preload spacer (1) from pinion gear.
12. Remove rear bearing from pinion shaft (1) with Puller/Press C-293-PA (2) and Adapters C-293-47 (3).
13. Remove depth shims (1) from pinion gear (2) and record shim thickness.
INSTALLATION
NOTE: Ring and pinion gears are a matched set. Do not replace one gear without replacing the other matching gear. If ring and pinion gears or bearings are replaced, Refer to Adjustments for Pinion Gear Depth Setting.
1. Apply Mopar Door Ease or stick lubricant to outside surface of pinion bearing cups.
2. Install rear pinion bearing cup with Installer C-4308 (1) and Handle C-4171 (2).
3. Install front pinion bearing cup with Installer D-130 (1) and Handle C-4171 (2).
4. Install front pinion bearing.
5. Apply a light coating of gear lubricant on the lip of pinion seal. Install seal with Installer C-3972A (1) and Handle C-4171 (2).
6. Install proper thickness depth shim (1) on pinion gear (2).
7. Install rear bearing (4) and slinger if equipped, on pinion gear (3) with Installer 6448A (2) and a press (1).
8. Install new collapsible spacer (1) on pinion gear and install pinion in housing.
9. Tap pinion flange onto the pinion.
10. Install flange washer and a new nut on pinion and tighten pinion nut until there is zero end-play.
11. With a torque wrench and Flange Wrench C-3281 tighten the pinion nut to 285 N·m (210 ft. lbs.).
NOTE: Do not exceed the minimum torque 285 N·m (210 ft. lbs.) when installing the pinion nut at this point.
12. Measure pinion torque to rotating (1) with an inch pound torque wrench (2). Measure pinion torque to rotating frequently to avoid over over-crushing the collapsible spacer.
Pinion Torque To Rotate is:
- Original Bearings: 1 - 2 N·m (10 - 20 in. lbs.)
- New Bearings: 1.7 - 4 N·m (15 - 35 in. lbs.)
If pinion torque to rotate is low, tighten pinion nut in 6.8 N·m (5 ft. lbs.) increments until pinion torque to rotate is achieved.
CAUTION: Never loosen pinion nut to decrease pinion bearing rotating torque. If pinion torque to rotating is exceeded a new collapsible spacer must be installed. Failure to follow these instruction will damage the axle.
13. Position exciter ring on differential case. With a brass drift slowly and evenly tap the exciter ring into position.
14. Position ring gear on the differential case and start two ring gear bolts. This will provide case-to-ring gear bolt hole alignment.
15. Invert the differential case in the vise.
16. Install new ring gear (2) bolts (1) and alternately tighten to 102 N·m (75 ft. lbs.).
CAUTION: Never reuse the ring gear bolts. Failure to follow these instructions may result in fractured bolts causing extensive damage.
17. Install differential in housing and verify gear mesh, backlash and contact pattern.
18. Install differential cover.
19. Fill differential and install fill plug.