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 231 of 2627

PINION BLOCK 8897
SOCKET 8954
CUP INSTALLER 8960
CUP INSTALLER 8961
SEAL INSTALLER 8963
PLUG 8964
3 - 150 REAR AXLE - 11 1/2 AADR
REAR AXLE - 11 1/2 AA (Continued)
Page 232 of 2627

BEARING INSTALLER 8965
CUP INSTALLER 8968
PINION DRIVER 8977
FLANGE WRENCH 8979
PINION INSTALLER 8981
FLANGE PULLER 8992
DRREAR AXLE - 11 1/2 AA 3 - 151
REAR AXLE - 11 1/2 AA (Continued)
Page 233 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.).
AXLE BEARINGS
REMOVAL
(1) Remove axle shaft flange bolts and remove
shaft.
(2) Remove retianer ring (Fig. 18) from the axle
shaft tube.
(3) Remove hub bearing nut locking key (Fig. 19).
BRIDGE 938
Fig. 17 AXLE FLANGE BOLTS
1 - AXLE FLANGE
2 - FLANGE BOLT
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
3 - 152 REAR AXLE - 11 1/2 AADR
REAR AXLE - 11 1/2 AA (Continued)
Page 234 of 2627

(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
8153 and Handle C-4171.
(3) Pack bearings with the appropriate wheel bear-
ing 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
(0.01-0.001 in.)
(8) Install retainer ring with ring end in the key
slot.
(9) Install new axle shaft gasket and install the
axle shaft.
PINION SEAL
REMOVAL
(1) Remove axle shafts.
(2) Mark the propeller shaft and pinion flange for
installation reference.
(3) Remove propeller shaft.
(4) Rotate pinion gear three or four times.
(5) Measure and record the amount of torque nec-
essary to rotate the pinion gear with an inch pound
torque wrench (Fig. 22).
(6) Hold pinion flange with Flange Wrench 8979
(Fig. 23) and remove pinion flange nut.Fig. 20 INNER PART OF SEAL
1-PRYBAR
2 - AXLE TUBE
3 - REMAINING SEAL
Fig. 21 HUB NUT SOCKET
1 - SOCKET
2 - TORQUE WRENCH
Fig. 22 PINION ROTATING TORQUE
1 - PINION FLANGE
2 - TORQUE WRENCH
DRREAR AXLE - 11 1/2 AA 3 - 153
AXLE BEARINGS (Continued)
Page 235 of 2627

(7) Remove pinion flange with Pinion Flange
Puller 8992 (Fig. 24).
(8) Remove pinion shaft seal with a pry tool or
slide hammer mounted screw.
INSTALLATION
(1) Installnewpinion seal with Installer 8896
(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.(5) Hold pinion 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. Tighten pinion nut in small incre-
ments, until pinion rotating torque is 0.40-0.57 N´m
(3-5 in. lbs.) greater than recorded measurement.
(8) Rotate pinion several times then verify pinion
rotating torque again.
(9) Install axle shafts.
(10) Install propeller shaft with reference marks
aligned.
(11) Check differential fluid level.
Fig. 23 FLANGE WRENCH
1 - PINION FLANGE
2 - FLANGE WRENCH
Fig. 24 PINION FLANGE PULLER
1 - PINION FLANGE
2 - PULLER
Fig. 25 PINION SEAL INSTALLER
1 - HANDLE
2 - INSTALLER
Fig. 26 FLANGE WRENCH
1 - FLANGE WRENCH
2 - PINION FLANGE
3 - 154 REAR AXLE - 11 1/2 AADR
PINION SEAL (Continued)
Page 236 of 2627

DIFFERENTIAL
REMOVAL
(1) Remove fill hole plug from the differential
housing cover.
(2) Remove differential housing cover and drain
the lubricant.
(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.
DISASSEMBLY
(1) Remove ring gear.
(2) Remove pinion shaft with a hammer and punch
from the side with the hole in the pinion shaft (Fig.
29).
Fig. 27 ADJUSTER LOCKS
1 - LOCK BOLT
2 - ADJUSTER LOCK
3 - ADJUSTER
4 - BEARING CAP
Fig. 28 ADJUSTERS
1 - BEARING CUP
2 - ADJUSTER
3 - BEARING CUP
4 - ADJUSTER
Fig. 29 PINION SHAFT
1 - PINION GEAR
2 - PINION SHAFT
3 - EXCITER RING
DRREAR AXLE - 11 1/2 AA 3 - 155
Page 237 of 2627

(3) Rotate one pinion gear with thrust washer
(Fig. 30) to the differential window and remove the
gear.
(4) Rotate the other pinion gear with thrust
washer (Fig. 31) to the differential window and
remove the gear.
(5) Remove differential side gears and thrust
washers (Fig. 32).
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).
Fig. 30 FIRST PINION GEAR
1 - DIFFERENTIAL WINDOW
2 - PINION GEAR
3 - THRUST WASHER
Fig. 31 SECOND PINION GEAR
1 - DIFFERENTIAL WINDOW
2 - THRUST WASHER
3 - PINION GEAR
Fig. 32 SIDE GEARS
1 - SIDE GEAR
2 - SIDE GEAR
3 - PINION GEARS
Fig. 33 SIDE GEAR
1 - DIFFERENTIAL WINDOW
2 - SIDE GEAR
3 - 156 REAR AXLE - 11 1/2 AADR
DIFFERENTIAL (Continued)
Page 238 of 2627

(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).
(6) Install ring gear.
INSTALLATION
(1) Clean the housing cavity with a flushing oil,
light engine oil or lint free cloth.
CAUTION: Do not use water, steam, kerosene or
gasoline for cleaning.
(2) Lubricate differential case bearing.
(3) Install differential case with bearings cups into
the housing.
NOTE: A light coat of grease on the cups will hold
them in place during installation.
(4) Install bearing caps and bolts (Fig. 36). Tighten
the bearing cap bolts finger-tight.
NOTE: Do not torque bearing cap and bolts at this
time.
Fig. 34 PINION GEAR
1 - DIFFERENTIAL WINDOW
2 - SIDE GEARS
3 - PINION GEAR
Fig. 35 PINION SHAFT INSTALLATION
1 - SNAP RING
2 - SIDE GEAR
3 - PINION GEAR
4 - PINION SHAFT
Fig. 36 CASE BEARING CAP
1 - DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING
2 - BEARING CAP
3 - ADJUSTER
DRREAR AXLE - 11 1/2 AA 3 - 157
DIFFERENTIAL (Continued)
Page 239 of 2627

(5) Slide differential case toward the pinion gear
until the gears make contact/zero backlash. If zero
backlash cannot be obtained, turn the pinion side
adjuster until zero backlash is obtained.
(6) Holding the differential case toward the pinion
gear, turn bearing adjusters with Spanner Wrench
8883 until they make contact with the differential
bearings/cups.
(7) Back off the ring gear side adjuster 4 holes, to
obtain initial ring gear backlash.
(8) Install ring gear side adjuster lock and bolt. Do
not tighten adjuster lock bolt at this time.
(9) Tighten pinion gear side adjuster firmly
against the differential case bearing cup.
(10) Rotate the pinion several times to seat the dif-
ferential bearings.
(11) Loosen pinion gear side adjuster until it is no
longer in contact with the bearing cup.
(12) Tighten pinion gear side adjuster until it just
makes contact with the bearing cup.
(13) Tighten pinion gear side adjuster an addi-
tional:
²New Bearings6 Adjuster Holes
²Original Bearings4 Adjuster Holes
(14) Install pinion gear side adjuster lock and bolt.
Do not tighten adjuster lock bolt at this time.
(15) Tighten bearing cap bolts to 281 N´m (207 ft.
lbs.).
(16) Tighten adjuster lock bolts to 25 N´m (18 ft.
lbs.) (Fig. 37).
(17) Measure ring gear backlash and check gear
tooth contact pattern. Refer to Adjustments for pro-
cedure.
(18) Install axle shaft gasket and install axle
shafts.
(19) Install differential housing gasket and cover.
Tighten cover bolts to 40 N´m (30 ft. lbs.).
(20) Fill axle with lubricant, refer to Lubrication &
Maintenance for capacity and lubricant type.
(21) Install fill plug and tighten to 32 N´m (24 ft.
lbs.).
DIFFERENTIAL TRAC-RITE
DESCRIPTION
The Trac-RiteŸ differential is a helical gear differ-
ential. The differential has two side gears, six pinion
gears and six pinion brake shoes.
NOTE: The differential is seviced as an assembly
only if damaged, but can be disassembled for
cleaning. The assembly should be cleaned every
time a bearing is changed due to damage.
OPERATION
When one wheel begins to spin the pinion gears on
that side are forced toward the pinion brake shoes.
The pinion brake shoes then cause frictional drag on
the opposite pinion gears and the side gear. These
friction forces transfer the power to the opposite
wheel. Once the frictional forces are overcome, differ-
entiation will occur. The torque will be continually
biased by the frictional forces to the high traction
wheel.
DISASSEMBLY
(1) Remove differential ring gear bolts.
(2) Remove differential case cover locating screws
(Fig. 38).
(3) Remove differential case cover.
(4) Remove side gear and thrust washer (Fig. 39).
NOTE: Mark all component locations.
Fig. 37 ADJUSTER LOCK BOLT
1 - DIFFERENTIAL CASE
2 - ADJUSTER LOCK
3 - ADJUSTER LOCK BOLT
4 - BEARING CAP BOLT
3 - 158 REAR AXLE - 11 1/2 AADR
DIFFERENTIAL (Continued)
Page 240 of 2627

(5) Remove three pinion brake shoes (Fig. 40).
(6) Remove six pinion gears (Fig. 41).(7) Remove remaining side gear thrust washer and
spacer.
(8) Remove remaining three pinion brake shoes.
Fig. 38 LOCATION SCREWS
1 - DIFFERENTIAL COVER
2 - LOCATION SCREWS
Fig. 39 SIDE GEAR AND THRUST WASHER
1 - SIDE GEAR
2 - THRUST WASHER
Fig. 40 PINION BRAKE SHOES
1 - BRAKE SHOES
2 - PINION GEARS
Fig. 41 PINION GEARS
1 - PINION GEARS
2 - SIDE GEAR
DRREAR AXLE - 11 1/2 AA 3 - 159
DIFFERENTIAL TRAC-RITE (Continued)