Gear Tooth Contact Pattern
- Wipe clean each tooth of the ring gear.
- Apply gear marking compound to all of the ring gear teeth.
- Verify bearing cap bolts are torque to specification.
- Apply the brakes lightly to create a 14 N.m (10 ft. lbs.) pinion rotating torque.
- Rotate the pinion/pinion yoke 4 full revolutions in each directions.
- Read gear tooth contact pattern.
Gear contact pattern is correct. Backlash and pinion depth is correct.
Ring gear too far away from pinion gear, coast side toe (1) and drive side heel (2). Decrease backlash, by moving the ring closer to the pinion gear using the adjusters.
Ring gear too close to pinion gear, drive side toe (1) and coast side heel (2). Increase backlash, by moving the ring away from the pinion gear using the adjusters.
Ring gear too far away from pinion gear, drive side heel (1) and coast side heel (2). Decrease backlash, by moving the ring closer to the pinion gear using the adjusters.
Ring gear too close to pinion gear, drive side toe (1) and coast side toe (2). Increase backlash, by moving the ring away from the pinion gear using the adjusters.
Pinion gear set too low. Increase pinion gear height, by increasing the pinion depth shim thickness.
Pinion gear set too high. Decrease pinion depth, by decreasing the pinion depth shim thickness.