NISSAN 350Z 2007 Z33 Rear Final Drive Owner's Manual

REAR FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY
RFD-21
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Revision: 2006 November2007 350Z
Tooth Contact
1. Remove rear cover. Refer to RFD-24, "Differential Assembly" .
2. Apply red lead to drive gear.
CAUTION:
Apply red lead to both the faces of 3 to 4 gears at 4 loca-
tions evenly spaced on drive gear.
3. Rotate drive gear back and forth several times, check drive pin-
ion gear to drive gear tooth contact.
CAUTION:
Check tooth contact on drive side and reverse side.
SPD357
SDIA0570E
SDIA0207E

RFD-22
REAR FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY
Revision: 2006 November2007 350Z
4. If tooth contact is improperly adjusted, follow the procedure
below to adjust the pinion height (dimension X).

If the tooth contact is near the face (face contact), or near the
heel (heel contact), thicken pinion height adjusting washers to
move drive pinion closer to drive gear.
Refer to RFD-60, "
Pinion Height Adjusting Washer" .

If the tooth contact is near the flank (flank contact), or near the
toe (toe contact), thin pinion height adjusting washers to move
drive pinion farther from drive gear.
Refer to RFD-60, "
Pinion Height Adjusting Washer" .
Backlash
1. Remove rear cover. Refer to RFD-24, "Differential Assembly" .
2. Fit a dial indicator to the drive gear face to measure the back-
lash.

If the backlash is outside of the specified value, change the
thickness of side bearing adjusting washer.
CAUTION:
Do not change the total amount of washers as it will change the bearing preload.
SDIA0517E
PDIA0440E
PDIA0441E
Backlash: 0.10 – 0.15 mm (0.0039 – 0.0059 in)
When the backlash is large:
Make drive gear back side adjusting washer thicker,
and drive gear tooth side adjusting washer thinner by
the same amount. Refer to RFD-60, "
Side Bearing
Adjusting Washer" .
When the backlash is small:
Make drive gear back side adjusting washer thinner,
and drive gear tooth side adjusting washer thicker by
the same amount. Refer to RFD-60, "
Side Bearing
Adjusting Washer" .
SPD513

REAR FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY
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Revision: 2006 November2007 350Z
Companion Flange Runout
1. Fit a dial indicator onto the companion flange face (inner side of
the propeller shaft mounting bolt holes).
2. Rotate the companion flange to check for runout.
3. Fit a test indicator to the inner side of the companion flange
(socket diameter).
4. Rotate the companion flange to check for runout.
5. If the runout value is outside the repair limit, follow the procedure
below to adjust.
a. Check for runout while changing the phase between companion flange and drive pinion gear by 90° step,
and search for the position where the runout is the minimum.
b. If the runout value is still outside of the limit after the phase has been changed, possible cause will be an
assembly malfunction of drive pinion and pinion bearing and malfunction of pinion bearing. Check for
these items and repair if necessary.
c. If the runout value is still outside of the limit after the check and repair, replace companion flange.Runout limit : 0.08 mm (0.0031 in)
Runout limit : 0.08 mm (0.0031 in)
PDIA0646E

RFD-24
REAR FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY
Revision: 2006 November2007 350Z
DISASSEMBLY
Differential Assembly
1. Drain gear oil, if necessary.
2. Remove side flange.
3. Remove rear cover mounting bolts.
4. Remove rear cover to insert the seal cutter between gear carrier
and rear cover.
CAUTION:

Be careful not to damage the mating surface.

Do not insert flat-bladed screwdriver, this way damage
the mating surface.
5. Using two 45 mm (1.77 in) spacers, mount carrier on the attach-
ment.
6. For proper reinstallation, paint matching marks on one side of
the bearing cap.
CAUTION:

For matching marks, use paint. Do not damage bearing
caps and gear carrier.

Bearing caps are line-board during manufacture. The
matching marks are used to reinstall them in their origi-
nal positions.
7. Remove bearing caps.Tool number : KV10111100 (J-37228)
PDIA0491E
Tool number : KV38100800 (J-25604-01)
SPD888
SDIA1795E
S-PD343

REAR FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY
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Revision: 2006 November2007 350Z
8. Lift differential case assembly out with a suitable tool.

Keep side bearing outer races together with inner race. Do
not mix them up.
Also, keep side bearing adjusting washers together with bear-
ings.
9. Remove side bearing inner race.
To prevent damage to bearing, engage puller jaws in groove.
CAUTION:

To prevent damage to the side bearing and drive gear,
place copper plates between these parts and vise.

It is not necessary to remove side bearing inner race
except it is replaced.
10. For proper reinstallation, paint matching marks on one differen-
tial case assembly.
CAUTION:
For matching marks, use paint. Do not damage differential
case and drive gear.
11. Remove drive gear mounting bolts.
12. Tap drive gear off differential case assembly with a soft hammer.
CAUTION:
Tap evenly all around to keep drive gear from bending.
PDIA0547E
SPD527
Tool number A: ST33051001 (J-22888-20)
B: ST33061000 (J-8107-2)
SPD920
PDIA0496E

RFD-26
REAR FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY
Revision: 2006 November2007 350Z
13. Remove lock pin of pinion mate shaft with a punch from drive
gear side.
14. Remove pinion mate shaft.
15. Turn pinion mate gear, then remove pinion mate gear, pinion
mate thrust washer, side gear and side gear thrust washer from
differential case.
Drive Pinion Assembly
1. Remove differential assembly. Refer to RFD-24, "Differential Assembly" .
2. Remove drive pinion lock nut with the flange wrench.
SPD025
SDIA0031J
SDIA0032J
Tool number : KV40104000 ( — )
SDIA1144E

REAR FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY
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Revision: 2006 November2007 350Z
3. Put matching mark on the end of drive pinion. The matching
mark should be in line with the matching mark A on companion
flange.
CAUTION:
For matching mark, use paint. Do not damage companion
flange and drive pinion.
NOTE:
The matching mark A on the final drive companion flange indi-
cates the maximum vertical runout position.
When replacing companion flange, matching mark is not neces-
sary.
4. Remove companion flange using the suitable puller.
5. Press drive pinion assembly out of gear carrier.
CAUTION:
Do not drop drive pinion assembly.
6. Remove front oil seal.
7. Remove side oil seal.
8. Remove pinion front bearing inner race.
9. Remove collapsible spacer.
10. Remove pinion rear bearing inner race and drive pinion height
adjusting washer with the replacer.
11. Tap pinion front/rear bearing outer races uniformly a brass rod or
equivalent to removed.
CAUTION:
Be careful not to damage gear carrier.
PDIA0629E
SDIA1132E
SPD892
Tool number : ST30031000 (J-22912-01)
S-PD179
SDIA0817E

RFD-28
REAR FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY
Revision: 2006 November2007 350Z
INSPECTION AFTER DISASSEMBLY
Clean up the disassembled parts. Then, inspect if the parts are worn or damaged. If so, follow the measures
below.
ADJUSTMENT AND SELECTION OF ADJUSTING WASHERS
Differential Side Gear Clearance

Assemble the differential parts if they are disassembled. Refer to RFD-24, "Differential Assembly" .
1. Place differential case straight up so that side gear to be mea-
sured comes upward.
Content Conditions and Measures
Hypoid gear

If the gear teeth do not mesh or line-up correctly, determine the cause and adjust or replace as nec-
essary.

If the gears are worn, cracked, damaged, pitted or chipped (by friction) noticeably, replace with new
drive gear and drive pinion as a set.
Bearing

If any chipped (by friction), pitted, worn, rusted or scratched mark, or unusual noise from the bearing
is observed, replace as a bearing assembly (as a new set).
Side gear and Pinion mate
gear

If any cracks or damage on the surface of the tooth is found, replace.

If any worn or chipped mark on the contact sides of the thrust washer is found, replace.
Side gear thrust washer and
pinion mate thrust washer

If it is chipped (by friction), damaged, or unusually worn, replace.
Oil seal

Whenever disassembled, replace.

If wear, deterioration of adherence (sealing force lips), or damage is detected on the lips, replace
them.
Differential case

If any wear or crack on the contact sides of the differential case is found, replace.
Companion flange

If any chipped mark (about 0.1 mm, 0.004 in) or other damage on the contact sides of the lips of the
companion flange is found, replace.
PDIA0460E

REAR FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY
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Revision: 2006 November2007 350Z
2. Using feeler gauge, measure the clearance between side gear
back and differential case at 3 different points, while rotating
side gear. Average the 3 readings, and then measure the clear-
ance of the other side as well.
CAUTION:
To prevent side gear from tilting, insert feeler gauges with
the same thickness from both sides.
3. If the back clearance is outside the specification, use a thicker/
thinner side gear thrust washer to adjust. Refer to RFD-60,
"Side Gear Thrust Washer" .
CAUTION:
Select a side gear thrust washer for right and left individu-
ally.
Side Bearing Preload

Selecting carrier side bearing adjusting washers is required for successful completion of this procedure.
1. Make sure all parts are clean. Also, make sure the bearings are
well lubricated with gear oil.
2. Place the differential case, with side bearings and bearing races
installed, into gear carrier.
3. Insert left and right original side bearing adjusting washers in
place between side bearings and gear carrier.Side gear back clearance specification:
0.2 mm (0.008 in) or less.
(Each gear should rotate smoothly without excessive
resistance during differential motion.)
When the back clearance is large:
Use a thicker thrust washer.
When the back clearance is small:
Use a thinner thrust washer.
PDIA0576E
SPD527
SPD558

RFD-30
REAR FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY
Revision: 2006 November2007 350Z
4. Install bearing caps in their correct locations and tighten bearing
cap mounting bolts to the specified torque. Refer to RFD-19,
"COMPONENTS" .
5. Turn the carrier several times to seat the bearings.
6. Measure the turning torque of the carrier at the drive gear
mounting bolts with a spring gauge.
7. If the turning torque is outside the specification, use a thicker/
thinner side bearing adjusting washer to adjust. Refer to RFD-
60, "Side Gear Thrust Washer" .
CAUTION:
Select a side bearing adjusting washer for right and left
individually.
8. Record the total amount of washer thickness required for the correct carrier side bearing preload.
Pinion Gear Height
1. Make sure all parts are clean and that the bearings are well
lubricated.
2. Assemble the pinion gear bearings into the differential shim
selector tool.
SDIA1795E
Tool number : — (J-8129)
Specification:
34.2 – 39.2 N (3.5 – 4.0 kg, 7.7 – 8.8 lb) of pulling
force at the drive gear bolt
SPD194A
If the turning torque is less than the specified range:
Use a thicker thrust washer.
If the turning torque is greater than the specification:
Use a thinner thrust washer.
SPD772
Tool number : — (J-34309)
SPD769