Front axle DODGE RAM 1500 1998 2.G Service Manual

PINION GEAR DEPTH VARIANCE
Original Pinion
Gear Depth
VarianceNew Pinion Gear Depth Variance
24232221 0 +1 +2 +3 +4
+4+0.008 +0.007 +0.006 +0.005 +0.004 +0.003 +0.002 +0.001 0
+3+0.007 +0.006 +0.005 +0.004 +0.003 +0.002 +0.001 020.001
+2+0.006 +0.005 +0.004 +0.003 +0.002 +0.001 020.00120.002
+1+0.005 +0.004 +0.003 +0.002 +0.001 020.00120.00220.003
0+0.004 +0.003 +0.002 +0.001 020.00120.00220.00320.004
21+0.003 +0.002 +0.001 020.00120.00220.00320.00420.005
22+0.002 +0.001 020.00120.00220.00320.00420.00520.006
23+0.001 020.00120.00220.00320.00420.00520.00620.007
24020.00120.00220.00320.00420.00520.00620.00720.008
PINION DEPTH MEASUREMENT AND ADJUSTMENT
Measurements are taken with pinion cups and pin-
ion bearings installed in housing. Take measure-
ments with a Pinion Gauge Set, Pinion Block 8177,
Arbor Discs 8541 and Dial Indicator C-3339 (Fig. 7).(1) Assemble Pinion Height Block 6739, Pinion
Block 8177 and rear pinion bearing onto Screw 6741
(Fig. 7).
(2) Insert assembled height gauge components,
rear bearing and screw into the housing through the
pinion bearing cups (Fig. 8).
(3) Install front pinion bearing and Cone-Nut 6740
onto the screw. Tighten cone-nut until Torque To
Rotate the screw is 2.0 N´m (18 in. lbs.) (Fig. 7).
(4) Place Arbor Discs 8541 on Arbor D-115-3 in
position in the housing side bearing cradles (Fig. 9).
Install differential bearing caps on arbor discs and
tighten cap bolts to specification.
(5) Assemble Dial Indicator C-3339 into Scooter
Block D-115-2 and secure set screw.
Fig. 7 PINION GEAR DEPTH GAUGE
1 - DIAL INDICATOR
2 - ARBOR
3 - PINION HEIGHT BLOCK
4 - CONE
5 - SCREW
6 - PINION BLOCK
7 - SCOOTER BLOCK
8 - ARBOR DISC
Fig. 8 PINION HEIGHT BLOCK
1 - PINION BLOCK
2 - PINION HEIGHT BLOCK
DRFRONT AXLE - C205F 3 - 33
FRONT AXLE - C205F (Continued)

(6) Place Scooter Block/Dial Indicator in position
in the housing so dial probe and scooter block are
flush against the surface of the pinion height block.
Hold scooter block in place and zero the dial indica-
tor. Tighten dial indicator face lock screw.
(7) Slide the dial indicator probe across the gap
between the pinion height block and the arbor bar
with the scooter block against the pinion height block
(Fig. 10). Slide the dial probe to the crest of the arbor
bar and record the highest reading.
(8) Select a shim equal to the dial indicator read-
ing plus the drive pinion gear depth variance number
marked on the shaft of the pinion gear using the
opposite sign on the variance number. For example, if
the depth variance is ±2, add +0.002 in. to the dial
indicator reading.
(9) Remove the pinion depth gauge components
from the housing
DIFFERENTIAL BEARING PRELOAD AND GEAR
BACKLASH
Differential side bearing preload and gear backlash
is achieved by selective shims inserted between the
bearing cup and the housing. The proper shim thick-
ness can be determined using slip-fit Dummy Bear-
ings 8398 in place of the differential side bearings
and a Dial Indicator C-3339. Before measuring differ-
ential bearing preload and gear backlash, measure
pinion gear depth and prepare pinion for installation.Pinion gear depth is essential to establishing gear
backlash and tooth contact patterns. After measuring
shim thickness to take up differential side play,
install pinion and measure gear backlash shim thick-
ness. Overall shim thickness is the dial indicator
reading and preload specification added together. The
gear backlash measurement determines the shim
thickness used on the ring gear side of the differen-
tial case. Subtract gear backlash shim thickness from
overall shim thickness to determine shim thickness
for pinion gear side of the differential (Fig. 11).
Fig. 9 PINION GAUGE TOOLS
1 - ARBOR DISC
2 - PINION BLOCK
3 - ARBOR
4 - PINION HEIGHT BLOCK
Fig. 10 PINION GEAR DEPTH MEASUREMENT
1 - ARBOR
2 - SCOOTER BLOCK
3 - DIAL INDICATOR
Fig. 11 ADJUSTMENT SHIM
1 - PINION GEAR DEPTH SHIM
2 - DIFFERENTIAL BEARING PRELOAD SHIM
3 - RING GEAR
4 - DIFFERENTIAL BEARING PRELOAD SHIM
5 - COLLAPSIBLE SPACER
3 - 34 FRONT AXLE - C205FDR
FRONT AXLE - C205F (Continued)

SHIM SELECTION
NOTE: It is difficult to salvage the differential side
bearings during the removal procedure. Install
replacement bearings if necessary.
(1) Remove side bearings from differential case.
(2) Install ring gear if necessary, on differential
case and tighten bolts to specification.
(3) Install Dummy Bearings 8398 on differential
case.
(4) Install differential case in the housing.
(5) Insert Dummy Shims 8107 3.0 mm (0.118 in.)
starting point shims between both dummy bearings
and the housing (Fig. 12).
(6) Install the marked bearing caps in their correct
positions. Install and snug the bolts.
(7) Using a dead-blow hammer to seat the differ-
ential dummy bearings to each side of the differential
housing (Fig. 13) and (Fig. 14).
(8) Install Pilot Stud C-3288-B in cover bolt hole
below ring gear.
Fig. 12 DUMMY SHIM
1 - DUMMY SHIM
2 - DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING
3 - DIFFERENTIAL CASE
4 - DUMMY BEARINGS
Fig. 13 SEAT PINION GEAR SIDE
1 - DEAD-BLOW HAMMER
2 - HOUSING
3 - PINION GEAR SIDE
Fig. 14 SEAT RING GEAR SIDE
1 - HOUSING
2 - DEAD-BLOW HAMMER
3 - RING GEAR SIDE
DRFRONT AXLE - C205F 3 - 35
FRONT AXLE - C205F (Continued)

(9) Attach Dial Indicator C-3339 to post and posi-
tion dial indicator plunger on a flat surface on a ring
gear bolt head (Fig. 15).
(10) Push and hold differential to the pinion gear
side of the housing (Fig. 16) and zero dial indicator.
(11) Push and hold differential case to the ring
gear side and record dial indicator reading (Fig. 17).
(12) Add the dial indicator reading to the starting
point shim thicknesses to determine the total shim
thickness necessary to achieve zero differential end
play.
(13) Add 0.2 mm (0.008 in) to the zero end play
total. This new total represents the shims needed to
preload the new differential case bearings.
(14) Rotate dial indicator out of the way on pilot
stud.
(15) Remove differential case, dummy bearings
and dummy shims from the housing.
(16) Install the pinion gear in the housing. Install
the companion flange and establish the correct pinion
rotating torque.
(17) Install differential case and Dummy Bearings
in the housing with a single dummy shim on the ring
gear side of the axle and tighten retaining cap bolts.
(18) Position the dial indicator plunger on a flat
surface between the ring gear bolt heads (Fig. 15).
(19) Push and hold differential case toward pinion.
(20) Zero dial indicator face to pointer.(21) Push and hold differential case to ring gear
side of the housing.
(22) Record dial indicator reading.
Fig. 15 DIFFERENTIAL SIDE PLAY
1 - DIFFERENTIAL
2 - PILOT STUD
3 - DIAL INDICATOR
Fig. 16 ZERO DIAL INDICATOR
1 - PINION GEAR SIDE
2 - PILOT STUD
3 - DIAL INDICATOR
Fig. 17 RECORD DIAL INDICATOR
1 - DIAL INDICATOR
2 - HOUSING
3 - RING GEAR SIDE
3 - 36 FRONT AXLE - C205FDR
FRONT AXLE - C205F (Continued)

(23) Subtract 0.05 mm (0.002 in.) from the dial
indicator reading to compensate for backlash between
ring and pinion gears. Add the resulting measure-
ment to the thickness of the single dummy shim.
This is the thickness of shim required to achieve
proper backlash.
(24) Subtract the backlash shim thickness from
the total preload shim thickness. The remainder is
the shim thickness required on the pinion side of the
housing.
(25) Rotate dial indicator out of the way on pilot
stud.
(26) Remove differential case, dummy bearings
and dummy shim from the housing.
(27) Install new side bearing cones and cups on
differential case.
(28) Install Spreader W-129-B and Adapter Plates
8142-A on the housing and spread open enough to
receive differential case.
CAUTION: Never spread over 0.50 mm (0.020 in). If
the housing is over-spread, it could be distorted or
damaged.
(29) Place the side bearing shims in the differen-
tial housing against the housing shoulder.
(30) Install the differential case in the housing.
(31) Rotate the differential case several times to
seat the side bearings.
(32) Position the dial indicator plunger against a
ring gear tooth (Fig. 18).
(33) Push and hold ring gear upward while not
allowing the pinion gear to rotate.
(34) Zero dial indicator face to pointer.
(35) Push and hold ring gear downward while not
allowing the pinion gear to rotate. Dial indicator
reading should be between 0.12 mm (0.005 in.) and0.20 mm (0.008 in.). If backlash is not within specifi-
cations transfer the necessary amount of shim thick-
ness from one side of the differential housing to the
other (Fig. 19).
(36) Verify differential case and ring gear runout
by measuring ring to pinion gear backlash at eight
locations around the ring gear. Readings should not
vary more than 0.05 mm (0.002 in.). If readings vary
more than specified, the ring gear or the differential
case is defective.
After the proper backlash is achieved, perform the
Gear Contact Pattern procedure.
GEAR CONTACT PATTERN
Gear tooth contact pattern is used to verify the cor-
rect running position of the ring and pinion gears.
This will produce low noise and long gear life. Gears
which are not positioned properly may be noisy and
have shorten gear life.
(1) Wipe clean each tooth of the ring gear.
(2) Apply gear marking compound to all of the ring
gear teeth.
(3) Verify bearing cap bolts are torque specifica-
tion.
(4) Apply the brakes lightly to create at 14 N´m
(10 ft. lbs.) pinion rotating torque.
(5) Rotate the pinion/pinion yoke 4 full revolutions
in each directions.
(6) Read gear tooth contact pattern:
²Gear contact pattern correct (Fig. 20). Backlash
and pinion depth is correct.
Fig. 18 RING GEAR BACKLASH
1 - RING GEAR
2 - DIAL INDICATOR
Fig. 19 BACKLASH SHIM ADJUSTMENT
DRFRONT AXLE - C205F 3 - 37
FRONT AXLE - C205F (Continued)

²Ring gear too far away from pinion gear (Fig.
21). Decrease backlash by moving the ring closer to
the pinion gear.
²Ring gear too close to pinion gear (Fig. 22).
Increase backlash, by moving the ring away from the
pinion gear.
²Ring gear too far away from pinion gear (Fig.
23). Decrease backlash, by moving the ring closer to
the pinion gear.²Ring gear too close to pinion gear (Fig. 24).
Increase backlash, by moving the ring away from the
pinion gear.
²Pinion gear set too low (Fig. 25). Increase pinion
gear height, by increasing the pinion depth shim
thickness.
Fig. 20 CORRECT CONTACT PATTERN
Fig. 21 INCORRECT BACKLASH
1 - COAST SIDE TOE
2 - DRIVE SIDE HEEL
Fig. 22 INCORRECT BACKLASH
1 - DRIVE SIDE TOE
2 - COAST SIDE HEEL
Fig. 23 INCORRECT BACKLASH
1 - DRIVE SIDE HEEL
2 - COAST SIDE HEEL
Fig. 24 INCORRECT BACKLASH
1 - DRIVE SIDE TOE
2 - COAST SIDE TOE
Fig. 25 LOW PINION HEIGHT
3 - 38 FRONT AXLE - C205FDR
FRONT AXLE - C205F (Continued)

²Pinion gear set too high (Fig. 26). Decrease pin-
ion depth, by decreasing the pinion depth shim thick-
ness.
SPECIFICATIONS
AXLE SPECIFICATIONS
DESCRIPTION SPECIFICATION
Axle Ratio 3.55, 3.92
Differential Case Flange Runout 0.076 mm (0.003 in.)
Differential Side Gear Clearance 0-0.15 mm (0-0.006 in.)
Ring Gear Diameter 205 mm (8.0 in.)
Ring Gear Backlash 0.12-0.20 mm (0.005-0.008 in.)
Ring Gear Runout 0.12 mm (0.005 in.)
Pinion Bearing Preload - New Bearings 2.0-2.8 N´m (18-25 in. lbs.)
Pinion Bearing Preload - Original Bearings 1-2 N´m (10-20 in. lbs.)
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
DESCRIPTION N´m Ft. Lbs. In. Lbs.
Mounting Nuts 95 70 -
Differential Fill Hole Plug 34 25 -
Differential Cover Bolts 22 15 -
Bearing Cap Bolts 61 45 -
Ring Gear Bolts 108 80 -
Pinion Nut 271-475 200-350 -
Fig. 26 HIGH PINION HEIGHT
DRFRONT AXLE - C205F 3 - 39
FRONT AXLE - C205F (Continued)

SPECIAL TOOLS
PULLER C-293-PA
PLUG C-293-3
ADAPTER C-293-42
ADAPTER C-293-48
PILOTS C-3288-B
DIAL INDICATOR C-3339
INSTALLER C-3716-A
INSTALLER C-3718
HANDLE C-4171
PULLER C-452
3 - 40 FRONT AXLE - C205FDR
FRONT AXLE - C205F (Continued)

REMOVER C-4660-A
SPREADER W-129-B
INSTALLER 5063
INSTALLER 6448
HOLDER 6719A
PINION DEPTH SET 6775
DUMMY SHIM 8107
ADAPTER PLATES 8142A
PINION BLOCK 8177
DRFRONT AXLE - C205F 3 - 41
FRONT AXLE - C205F (Continued)

REMOVER 8240A
DUMMY BEARING 8398
REMOVER 8401
INSTALLER 8692
INSTALLER 8693
INSTALLER 8694
INSTALLER 8695
REMOVER 8831
3 - 42 FRONT AXLE - C205FDR
FRONT AXLE - C205F (Continued)