Adjustments Affecting Tooth Contact

The following two adjustments can be made which will affect the tooth contact pattern:
- The backlash.
- The position of the drive pinion gear (1) in the housing.

The effects of bearing preloads are not readily apparent on hand-loaded tooth contact pattern tests.

Backlash is adjusted by means of variable thickness adjuster rings (3). They move the entire differential closer to, or farther from, the drive pinion gear (1). These are also used to set the differential bearing carrier bearing preload. If the thickness of the right snap ring (3) is increased, along with decreasing the left snap ring (3), backlash (4) increases. The backlash decreases if the left snap ring thickness is increased, along with a decrease in the right snap ring thickness.

The position of the differential drive pinion gear is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the drive pinion gear bearing shim (2) thickness between the drive pinion gear inner bearing and the housing. A shim (2) is used in the axle to compensate for manufacturing tolerances. Increasing the thickness moves the drive pinion gear (1) closer to the centerline of the ring gear (5). Decreasing the shim thickness moves the drive pinion gear (1) farther away from the centerline of the ring gear (5).