Right Side Gear Backlash Adjustment
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 GMC Sierra, 2004 GMC Cab & Chassis Sierra, 2004 Chevrolet Silverado, and 2004 Chevrolet Cab & Chassis Silverado. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Install the locking differential clutch disc thrust washer.
- Install the differential side gear cam unit and clutch pack assembly.
- Assemble a set of washers, a nut, and a bolt long enough in order to hold the side gear in place.
- Install the bolt and washer assembly through the differential case half.
- Install a second set of washers and the nut onto the bolt extending through the differential case half.
- Install the differential case half into a vise.
Clamp on the nut on the bottom of the differential case.
- Install the differential pinion gears, the differential pinion gear thrust washers and the locking differential spider into the case half.
- Loosen the bolt in order to turn the differential side gear.
- Index the pinion gear so that one tooth is pointing downward, perpendicular to the case half face.
- Tighten the bolt until the clutch plates are compressed.
- Install the J 7872 onto the differential case.
- Loosely clamp the J 8001-3 onto the stem of the J 7872 .
- Place the contact pad of the J 8001-3 on the tooth that is perpendicular to the differential side gear.
- Preload the dial of the J 8001-3 approximately one turn clockwise.
- Tighten the lock nut on the J 7872 finger tight.
- Turn the dial of the J 8001-3 until the needle and the dial face indicate ZERO.
- Measure the differential pinion gear to locking differential side gear backlash by performing the following steps:
- Pull the pinion gear firmly into the seat.
- Rotate the pinion gear back and forth while reading the dial indicator.
Do not unseat the locking differential spider. This will make the backlash reading inaccurate.
- Record the measurement.
- Measure the differential pinion gear to locking differential side gear backlash on the other 2 pinion gears following the steps above.
Specification: The backlash between the differential pinon gear and locking differential side gear should be between 0.279-0.432 mm (0.011-0.017 in).
- If the backlash is too large, install a thicker locking differential side gear thrust washer and recheck the backlash.
- If the backlash is too small, use a thinner locking differential side gear thrust washer and recheck the backlash.
- Locking differential side gear thrust washers are available in the following sizes:
Washer Sizes
- 0.559 mm (0.022 in)
- 0.686 mm (0.027 in)
- 0.813 mm (0.032 in)
- 0.914 mm (0.036 in)
- 1.016 mm (0.040 in)
- 1.067 mm (0.042 in)
- 1.118 mm (0.044 in)
- 1.219 mm (0.048 in)
- 1.321 mm (0.052 in)
IMPORTANT:
The washers must be large enough in order to fit over the differential side gear but not too large to where they will cause an interference with the pinion gear and spider assembly.