DODGE RAM 1500 1998 2.G Workshop Manual
Manufacturer: DODGE, Model Year: 1998, Model line: RAM 1500, Model: DODGE RAM 1500 1998 2.GPages: 2627
Page 201 of 2627

SPECIFICATIONS
AXLE SPECIFICATIONS
DESCRIPTION SPECIFICATION
Axle Ratio 3.73, 4.10
Ring Gear Diameter 266 mm (10.5 in.)
Ring Gear Backlash 0.13-0.18 mm (0.005-0.007 in.)
Pinion Bearing Preload - New Bearings 1.69-2.82 N´m (15-25 in. lbs.)
Pinion Bearing Preload - Original Bearings 1-2 N´m (10-20 in. lbs.)
Pinion Bearing Preload + Diff Case Bearing Preload -
New Bearings3.4-5.6 N´m (30-50 in. lbs.)
Pinion Bearing Preload + Diff Case Bearing Preload -
Original Bearings2.8-5.1 N´m (25-45 in. lbs.)
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
DESCRIPTION N´m Ft. Lbs. In. Lbs.
Fill Hole Plug 32 24 -
Differential Cover Bolts 40 30 -
Bearing Cap Bolts 165 122 -
Ring Gear Bolts 237 175 -
Axle Flange Bolts 129 95 -
Adjuster Lock Bolt 25 18 -
SPECIAL TOOLS
PULLER C-293-PA
DIAL INDICATOR SET C-3339
HANDLE C-4171
3 - 120 REAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AADR
REAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AA (Continued)
Page 202 of 2627

DIAL INDICATOR STUD L-4438
BEARING INSTALLER MD-998805
SPLITTER 1130
PINION DEPTH GAUGE 6730
ARBOR DISCS 6732
ADAPTERS 8879
ADJUSTER WRENCH 8883
DRREAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AA 3 - 121
REAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AA (Continued)
Page 203 of 2627

PLUG 8888
SEAL INSTALLER 8896
GAUGE BLOCK 8899
SOCKET 8954
BEARING INSTALLER 8956
CUP INSTALLER 8959
3 - 122 REAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AADR
REAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AA (Continued)
Page 204 of 2627

CUP INSTALLER 8960
CUP INSTALLER 8961
CUP INSTALLER 8962
SEAL INSTALLER 8963
PINION DRIVER 8977
FLANGE WRENCH 8979
DRREAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AA 3 - 123
REAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AA (Continued)
Page 205 of 2627

AXLE SHAFTS
REMOVAL
(1) Remove axle shaft flange bolts (Fig. 17).
(2) Slide axle shaft out of the axle tube.
(3) Remove axle shaft gasket.
INSTALLATION
NOTE: Axle flange bolts must be replaced or use
Mopar Lock N' Seal or LoctiteT242 on cleaned
existing bolts.
(1) Clean axle flange and hub.
(2) Install new axle shaft gasket.
(3) Slide axle shaft into the axle tube.
(4) Install axle shaft flange bolts and tighten to
129 N´m ( 95 ft. lbs.).
PINION INSTALLER 8981
FLANGE PULLER 8992
BRIDGE 938
Fig. 17 AXLE FLANGE BOLTS
1 - AXLE FLANGE
2 - FLANGE BOLT
3 - 124 REAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AADR
REAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AA (Continued)
Page 206 of 2627

AXLE BEARINGS
REMOVAL
(1) Remove axle shaft flange bolts and remove axle
shaft.
(2) Remove retianer ring (Fig. 18) from the axle
shaft tube.
(3) Remove hub bearing nut locking key (Fig. 19).(4) Remove hub bearing nut with Socket 8954.
(5) Remove hub and bearings from the axle.
(6) Pry out hub bearing seal from the back of the
hub.
NOTE: The inner part of the seal may stay on the
axle tube (Fig. 20). This part must also be removed.
(7) Remove rear bearing.
(8) Remove hub bearing cups with a hammer and
drift.
INSTALLATION
(1) Install outer hub bearing cup with Installer
8961 and Handle C-4171.
(2) Install inner hub bearing cup with Installer
8962 and Handle C-4171.
(3) Pack bearings with the appropriate grease.
(4) Install rear bearing and installnewgrease
seal with Installer 8963 and Handle C-4171.
(5) Slide hub on the axle tube and install front
bearing into the hub.
(6) Install hub bearing nut with Socket 8954 and
tighten to 30 N´m (22 ft. lbs.) while rotating the hub
(Fig. 21).
(7) Back off nut about 30É and align next hub nut
key slot with axle tube key slot and install locking
key.
NOTE: End play should be 0.025-0.25 mm
(0.001-0.010 in.).
Fig. 18 RETAINER RING
1 - RETAINER RING
2 - LOCKING KEY
3 - BEARING NUT
Fig. 19 LOCKING KEY
1 - BEARING NUT
2 - LOCKING KEY
3 - AXLE TUBE
Fig. 20 INNER PART OF SEAL
1-PRYBAR
2 - AXLE TUBE
3 - REMAINING SEAL
DRREAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AA 3 - 125
Page 207 of 2627

(8)Install retainer ring with ring end in the key slot.
(9) Install new axle shaft gasket and install axle
shaft.
PINION SEAL
REMOVAL
(1) Remove axle shafts.
(2) Mark propeller shaft and pinion flange for
installation reference and remove shaft.
(3) Rotate pinion gear three or four times.
(4) Measure and record the amount of torque nec-
essary to rotate the pinion gear with an inch pound
torque wrench (Fig. 22).(5) Hold pinion flange with Flange Wrench 8979
(Fig. 23) and remove pinion flange nut and washer.
(6) Remove pinion flange with Pinion Flange
Puller 8992 (Fig. 24).
(7) Remove pinion shaft seal with a pry tool or
slide hammer mounted screw.
INSTALLATION
(1) Installnewpinion seal with Installer 8896 and
Handle C-4171 (Fig. 25).
(2) Apply a light coat of teflon sealant to the pin-
ion flange splines.
(3) Lightly tap the pinion flange onto the pinion
until a few threads are showing.
(4) Install flange washer andnewpinion nut.
Fig. 21 HUB NUT SOCKET
1 - SOCKET
2 - TORQUE WRENCH
Fig. 22 PINION ROTATING TORQUE
1 - PINION FLANGE
2 - TORQUE WRENCH
Fig. 23 FLANGE WRENCH
1 - PINION FLANGE
2 - FLANGE WRENCH
Fig. 24 PINION FLANGE PULLER
1 - PINION FLANGE
2 - PULLER
3 - 126 REAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AADR
AXLE BEARINGS (Continued)
Page 208 of 2627

(5) Hold flange with Flange Wrench 8979 (Fig. 26)
and tighten pinion nut until pinion end play is taken
up.
(6) Rotate pinion several times to seat bearings.
(7) Measure pinion rotating torque with an inch
pound torque wrench and compare it to recorded
measurement.
(8) Tighten pinion nut in small increments, until
pinion rotating torque is 0.40-0.57 N´m (3-5 in. lbs.)
greater than recorded measurement.
(9) Rotate pinion several times then verify pinion
rotating torque again.
(10) Install axle shafts.
(11) Install propeller shaft with reference marks
aligned.
(12) Check and fill differential if necessary.
DIFFERENTIAL
REMOVAL
(1) Remove lubricant fill hole plug from the differ-
ential housing cover.
(2) Remove differential housing cover and drain
the lubricant from housing.
(3) Remove axle shafts.
(4) Remove adjuster lock bolts and adjuster locks
(Fig. 27).
(5) Mark bearing caps left and right for installa-
tion reference.
(6) Remove bearing cap bolts and remove bearing
caps.
(7) Loosen differential bearing adjusters (Fig. 28)
with Spanner Wrench 8883.
(8) Remove differential case from the housing.
(9) Remove bearing cups and tag them left and
right for installation reference.
Fig. 25 PINION SEAL INSTALLER
1 - HANDLE
2 - INSTALLER
Fig. 26 FLANGE WRENCH
1 - FLANGE WRENCH
2 - PINION FLANGE
Fig. 27 ADJUSTER LOCKS
1 - LOCK BOLT
2 - ADJUSTER LOCK
3 - ADJUSTER
4 - BEARING CAP
DRREAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AA 3 - 127
PINION SEAL (Continued)
Page 209 of 2627

DISASSEMBLY
(1) Remove pinion shaft with a hammer and punch
from the side with the hole in the pinion shaft (Fig.
29).
(2) Rotate one pinion gear with thrust washer
(Fig. 30) to the differential window and remove the
gear.(3) Rotate the other pinion gear with thrust
washer (Fig. 31) to the differential window and
remove the gear.
(4) Remove differential side gears and thrust
washers (Fig. 32).
Fig. 28 BEARING ADJUSTERS
1 - BEARING CUP
2 - ADJUSTER
3 - BEARING CUP
4 - ADJUSTER
Fig. 29 PINION SHAFT
1 - PINION GEAR
2 - PINION SHAFT
3 - RING GEAR
4 - EXCITER RING
Fig. 30 FRIST PINION GEAR
1 - DIFFERNTIAL CASE WINDOW
2 - PINION GEAR
3 - THRUST WASHER
Fig. 31 SECOND PINION GEAR
1 - DIFFERENTIAL WINDOW
2 - THRUST WASHER
3 - PINION GEAR
3 - 128 REAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AADR
DIFFERENTIAL (Continued)
Page 210 of 2627

ASSEMBLY
NOTE: If the same gears and thrust washers are
being used, install them into their orignial locations.
(1) Lubricate all differential components with axle
lubricant.
(2) Install differential side gears and thrust wash-
ers (Fig. 33).
(3) Install first pinion gear into the differential
window and side gears. Rotate the pinion gear to the
back of the case (Fig. 34).(4) Install the other pinion gear and thrust
washer. Rotate the gears to align hole in the pinion
gears with hole in the differential case.
(5) Slide pinion shaft into the case and through
the pinion gears. Tap the shaft to seat the pinion
shaft snap-ring into the case (Fig. 35).
Fig. 32 SIDE GEARS
1 - SIDE GEAR
2 - SIDE GEAR
3 - PINION GEARS
Fig. 33 SIDE GEAR
1 - DIFFERENTIAL WINDOW
2 - SIDE GEAR
Fig. 34 PINION GEAR
1 - DIFFERENTIAL WINDOW
2 - SIDE GEARS
3 - PINION GEAR
Fig. 35 PINION SHAFT INSTALLATION
1 - PINION SHAFT SNAP-RING
2 - SIDE GEAR
3 - PINION GEAR
4 - PINION SHAFT
DRREAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AA 3 - 129
DIFFERENTIAL (Continued)