Ring and Pinion
Front Axle - 248FBI / PINION GEAR/RING GEARREMOVAL
NOTE: The ring and pinion gears are service in a matched set. Do not replace the ring gear without replacing the match pinion gear.
1. Remove differential from housing.
2. Place differential case in a vise with soft metal jaw.
3. Remove ring gear bolts from differential case.
4. Drive ring gear from differential case with a soft hammer (Fig. 47).
5. Mark pinion yoke and propeller shaft for installation alignment.
6. Remove propeller shaft from pinion yoke and tie propeller shaft to underbody.
7. Hold pinion yoke with Holder 6719A and remove pinion yoke nut and washer.
8. Remove pinion yoke with Puller C-452 and Flange Wrench C-3281 (Fig. 48).
9. Remove pinion gear from housing (Fig. 49).
10. Remove pinion seal with a pry bar or screw mounted slide hammer.
11. Remove oil slinger and front pinion bearing.
12. Remove front pinion bearing cup with Driver D-158 and Handle C-4171 (Fig. 50).
13. Remove rear bearing cup with remover D-162 and Handle C-4171 (Fig. 51).
14. Remove collapsible preload spacer (Fig. 52).
15. Remove rear pinion bearing from pinion with Puller C-293-PA and Adapters C-293-37 (Fig. 53).
16. Remove pinion depth shims from the pinion shaft and record thickness.
INSTALLATION
NOTE: Pinion depth shims are placed between the rear pinion bearing cone and pinion gear to achieve proper ring and pinion gear mesh. If ring and pinion gears are reused, the original pinion depth shim can be used. Refer to Adjustments (Pinion Gear Depth) to select the proper shim thickness if ring and pinion gears are replaced.
1. Apply Mopar Door Ease stick lubricant or equivalent to outside surface of bearing cups.
2. Install rear pinion bearing cup with Installer D- 111 and Handle C-4171 (Fig. 54) and verify cup is seated.
3. Install front pinion bearing cup with Installer D-146 and Handle C-4171 (Fig. 55) and verify cup is seated.
4. Install pinion front bearing, oil slinger. Apply a light coating of gear lubricant on the lip of pinion seal.
5. Install pinion seal with an appropriate installer (Fig. 56).
6. Install proper thickness depth shim on the pinion gear.
7. Install rear bearing and oil slinger on pinion gear with Installer C-3095-A (Fig. 57).
8. Install a new collapsible preload spacer on pinion shaft (Fig. 58).
9. Install pinion gear in housing.
10. Install yoke with Installer C-3718 and Yoke Holder 6719A (Fig. 59).
11. Install yoke washer and a new nut on the pinion gear. Tighten the nut to 291 Nm (215 ft. lbs.) minimum. Do not over-tighten. Maximum torque is 678 Nm (500 ft. lbs.).
CAUTION: Never loosen pinion gear nut to decrease pinion preload torque and never exceed specified preload torque. If preload torque is exceeded a new collapsible spacer must be installed.
12. Use Yoke Holder 6719A to hold the yoke (Fig. 60) and tighten the nut in 6.8 Nm (5 ft. lbs.) until the rotating torque is achieved. Measure the preload torque frequently to avoid over-tightening the nut.
13. Check bearing preload torque with an inch pound torque wrench (Fig. 61). The torque to rotate the pinion gear should be:
Original Bearings: 1 to 2 Nm (10 to 20 inch lbs.).
New Bearings: 2.26 to 4.52 Nm (20 to 40 inch lbs.).
14. Invert differential case in a vise and start two ring gear bolts. This will provide case-to-ring gear bolt hole alignment.
15. Install new ring gear bolts and alternately tighten to 176 Nm (130 ft. lbs.). (Fig. 62).
CAUTION: Never reuse the ring gear bolts. The bolts can fracture causing extensive damage.
16. Install differential in axle housing and verify gear mesh and contact pattern. Refer to Adjustments (Gear Contact Pattern).
17. Install differential cover and fill with lubricant.