Pinion Gear/Ring Gear
PINION GEAR/RING GEARREMOVAL
NOTE: The ring and pinion gears are serviced in a matched set. Never replace one gear without replacing the other gear.
1. Raise and support the vehicle.
2. Mark pinion yoke and propeller shaft for installation alignment.
3. Disconnect propeller shaft from pinion yoke. Tie propeller shaft to underbody.
4. Remove differential from axle housing.
5. Place differential case in a vise with soft metal jaw.
6. Remove ring gear bolts from the differential case.
7. Drive ring gear from the differential case with a rawhide hammer (Fig. 59).
8. Hold pinion yoke with Wrench 6958 and remove pinion yoke nut and washer.
9. Remove pinion yoke from pinion shaft with Remover C-452 and Wrench C-3281 (Fig. 60).
10. Remove the pinion gear from housing (Fig. 61).
11. Remove pinion shaft seal with a pry tool or a slide hammer mounted screw.
12. Remove oil slinger, if equipped, and front pinion bearing.
13. Remove front pinion bearing cup with Remover C-4345 and Handle C-4171 (Fig. 62).
14. Remove rear bearing cup from housing (Fig. 63) with Remover D-149 and Handle C-4171.
15. Remove collapsible preload spacer (Fig. 64).
16. Remove rear bearing from the pinion shaft with Puller/Press C-293-PA and Adapters C-293-40 (Fig. 65).
17. Remove depth shims from the pinion shaft and record the shims thickness.
INSTALLATION
NOTE: A pinion depth shim/oil slinger is placed between the rear pinion bearing cone and the pinion head to achieve proper ring gear and pinion mesh. If ring gear and pinion are reused, the pinion depth shim/oil slinger should not require replacement. Refer to Adjustment (Pinion Gear Depth) to select the proper thickness shim/oil slinger if ring and pinion gears are replaced.
1. Apply Mopar Door Ease or equivalent lubricant to outside surface of bearing cups.
2. Install pinion rear bearing cup with Installer D-146 and Driver Handle C-4171 (Fig. 66) and verify cup is seated.
3. Install pinion front bearing cup with Installer D-130 and Handle C-4171 (Fig. 67) and verify cup is seated.
4. Install pinion front bearing and shim.
5. Apply a light coating of gear lubricant on the lip of pinion seal and install seal with an appropriate installer (Fig. 68).
6. Install depth shim on the pinion gear.
7. Install rear bearing and shim on the pinion gear with Installer W-262 and a press (Fig. 69).
8. Install a new collapsible preload spacer on pinion shaft and install pinion gear in the housing (Fig. 70).
9. Install yoke with Installer Screw 8112, Cup 8109 and Wrench 6958 (Fig. 71).
10. Install yoke washer and a new nut on the pinion gear and tighten the pinion nut until there is zero bearing end-play.
11. Tighten the nut to 271 Nm (200 ft. lbs.).
CAUTION: Never loosen pinion gear nut to decrease pinion gear bearing rotating torque and never exceed specified preload torque. If preload torque or rotating torque is exceeded a new collapsible spacer must be installed.
12. Using Spanner Wrench 6958 and a torque wrench set at 475 Nm (350 ft. lbs.), (Fig. 72) slowly tighten the nut in 6.8 Nm (5 ft. lbs.) increments until the rotating torque is achieved. Measure the rotating torque frequently to avoid over crushing the collapsible spacer (Fig. 73).
NOTE: If more than 475 Nm (350 ft. lbs.) torque is required to crush the collapsible spacer, the spacer is defective and must be replaced.
13. Check bearing rotating torque with a inch pound torque wrench (Fig. 73). The pinion gear rotating torque should be:
- Original Bearings: 1 to 2 Nm (10 to 20 in. lbs.).
- New Bearings: 2 to 4 Nm (20 to 35 in. lbs.).
14. Invert the differential case and start two ring gear bolts. This will provide case-to-ring gear bolt hole alignment.
15. Invert the differential case in the vise.
16. Install new ring gear bolts and alternately tighten to 108 Nm (80 ft. lbs.) (Fig. 74).
CAUTION: Do not reuse ring gear bolts, the bolts can fracture causing extensive damage.
17. Install differential in axle housing and verify gear mesh and contact pattern. Refer to Adjustment (Gear Contact Pattern) for procedure.
18. Install differential cover and fill with gear lubricant.
19. Install the propeller shaft with the reference marks aligned.
20. Remove supports and lower vehicle.