Differential Ring And Pinion: Installation
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2006 Ford Pickup and 2006 Ford Cab & Chassis. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Install the inner and outer bearing cups.
- After placing the inner and outer bearing cups in their bores, place the special tool on the inner pinion bearing cup.
- Place the special tool on the outer pinion bearing cup.
- Install the special tool into the replacer tools.
- Tighten the special tool to install the pinion bearing cups into their bores.
- Make sure the cups are correctly seated in their bores.
- If a feeler gauge of the specification shown in the illustration can be inserted between a cup and the bottom of its bore at any point around the cup, the cup is not correctly seated.
- Assemble and position the special tools.MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS
Item Part Number Description 1 4621 Pinion bearing (outer) 2 205-160 Screw (T80T-4020-F43) 3 4630 Pinion bearing (inner) 4 205-423 Gauge Disc 5 205-159 Gauge Block (2.1993-inch thick) (T80T-4020-F42) 6 205-D038 Gauge Tube (4.126-inch O.D.) (D81T-4020-F51) 7 205-226 Aligning Adapter (T85T-4020-AH1) 8 4010 Rear axle housing 9 205-111 Handle (T76P-4020-A11) - Tighten the Handle to achieve the specified rotational torque.
- Tighten to 2.2 Nm (20 lb-in).
- Rotate the special tool several half-turns to make sure of correct seating of the pinion bearings, and position the special tool.
- Install the special tool.
- Position the special tool.
- Install the differential side bearing caps.
- Install the differential side bearing cap bolts.
- Tighten to 119 Nm (88 lb-ft).
- Use a drive pinion bearing adjustment shim as a gauge for shim selection.
- After the correct shim thickness has been determined, remove the special tools.
- Place the selected shim on the pinion and press the bearing until it is firmly seated on the shaft using the special tools.
- Place a new collapsible spacer on the pinion shaft against the pinion stem shoulder.
- Install the outer drive pinion bearing and drive pinion shaft oil slinger.
- Lubricate the new drive pinion seal with grease.
- Install the drive pinion in the drive pinion carrier bore from inside the rear axle housing. Seat the drive pinion with a plastic hammer.
- Lubricate the pinion flange splines with grease.
- With the drive pinion in place in the axle housing, install the pinion flange using the Companion Flange Replacer.
- Position the new pinion nut.
- Use the special tool to hold the pinion flange while tightening the pinion nut.
- Refer to the TORQUE SPECIFICATION for new pinion bearings in the Specifications portion of this section.
- Tighten the pinion nut until the desired rotational torque is reached.
- Install the differential ring gear.
- Place the differential ring gear on the differential assembly.
- Hand-start 3 ring gear bolts to align the holes in the differential ring gear and the differential assembly.
- Place the differential assembly and differential ring gear onto the press bed blocks with the differential ring gear teeth facing downward.
- Press the differential ring gear into place.
- Install the 12 differential ring gear bolts.
- Apply stud and bearing mount to the differential ring gear bolts.
- Tighten to 150 Nm (111 lb-ft).
- Position the differential case in the rear axle housing.
- Install a shim on the left side as shown in the illustration.
- Install the left bearing cap and loosely install the bearing cap bolts.
- Install progressively larger shims on the right side until the largest shim selected can be assembled by hand.
- Install the right side bearing cap and tighten the 4 bolts.
- Tighten to 119 Nm (88 lb-ft).
- Rotate the differential case to make sure it rotates freely.
- Using the special tool, measure ring gear backlash.
- If a zero backlash condition occurs, add a 0.50 mm (0.020 inch) shim to the RH side and subtract 0.50 mm (0.020 inch) from the LH side to allow backlash indication. Check backlash. Repeat Step 40.
- To increase or decrease backlash, remove the bearing caps and install a thicker shim and a thinner shim as shown.THICKNESS REFERENCE
Backlash Change Required Thickness Change Required mm Inch mm Inch 0.025 0.001 0.050 0.002 0.050 0.002 0.050 0.002 0.076 0.003 0.101 0.004 0.101 0.004 0.152 0.006 0.127 0.005 0.152 0.006 0.152 0.006 0.203 0.008 0.177 0.007 0.254 0.010 0.203 0.008 0.254 0.010 0.228 0.009 0.304 0.012 0.254 0.010 0.355 0.014 0.279 0.011 0.355 0.014 0.304 0.012 0.406 0.016 0.330 0.013 0.457 0.018 0.335 0.014 0.457 0.018 0.381 0.015 0.508 0.020 - If backlash is not within specification, correct by increasing the thickness of one differential bearing shim and decreasing the thickness on the other differential bearing shim by the same amount.
- Install the bearing caps and bearing cap bolts.
- Tighten to 119 Nm (88 lb-ft).
- Rotate the differential several times to make sure the differential bearings are correctly seated.
- Using the special tool, recheck the backlash.
- Remove the bearing caps and bolts.
- To establish differential bearing preload, increase both left and right shim sizes by the specification shown in the illustration.
- Using the special tool, make sure the differential bearing shims are fully seated and the assembly turns freely.
- Install the bearing caps and bearing cap bolts.
- Tighten to 119 Nm (88 lb-ft).
- Using the special tool, verify the backlash.
- Apply marking compound and rotate the differential assembly 5 complete revolutions.
- Verify an acceptable pattern check.
- Install the axle shafts. For additional information, refer to AXLE SHAFT .
- Clean the gasket mating surface of the rear axle and the differential housing cover.
- Apply a new, continuous bead of silicone sealant to the differential housing cover.
- Install the differential housing cover and the differential housing cover bolts.
- Tighten to 45 Nm (33 lb-ft).
- Fill the axle to the level shown with axle lubricant and install the filler plug.
- Tighten to 30 Nm (22 lb-ft).
- Position the driveshaft and align the index mark on the pinion flange.
- Install the driveshaft flange bolts.
- Tighten to 103 Nm (76 lb-ft).
NOTE:
Install new drive pinion bearings without any additional lubricant since the anti-rust oil provides adequate lubricant without upsetting the drive pinion bearing preload settings.
NOTE:
This step duplicates final pinion bearing preload.
NOTE:
The special tool must be offset to obtain an accurate reading.
NOTE:
Drive pinion bearing adjustment shims must be flat and clean.
NOTE:
A slight drag should be felt for correct shim selection. Do not attempt to force the pinion shim between the Gauge Block and the Gauge Tube. This will minimize selection of a pinion shim thicker than required, which results in a deep tooth contact in the final assembly of integral rear axle assemblies.
CAUTION:
Check the splines on the pinion stem to be sure they are free of burrs. If burrs are evident, remove them by using a fine crocus cloth, working in a rotational motion. Wipe the pinion clean.
NOTE:
The same differential pinion bearing used in the previous procedure must be used in the final assembly of the axle.
CAUTION:
The special tool must be used due to tight spline fit.
CAUTION:
Under no circumstances is the pinion nut to be backed off to reduce preload. If reduced preload is required, a new collapsible spacer and pinion nut must be installed.
NOTE:
If removed, press the speed sensor ring on with the differential ring gear.
CAUTION:
The bearing caps must be installed in their original locations and positions.
NOTE:
Apply pressure toward the left side to make sure the left bearing is seated.
NOTE:
If backlash is not within specification, correct by increasing the thickness of one differential bearing shim and decreasing the thickness on the other differential bearing shim by the same amount.
CAUTION:
Make sure the machined surfaces on both the rear axle housing and the differential housing are clean and free of oil before applying the new silicone sealant. The inside of the rear axle must be covered when cleaning the machined surface to prevent contamination.
NOTE:
The differential housing cover must be installed within 15 minutes of application of the silicone, or new sealant must be applied. If possible, allow one hour before filling with lubricant to ensure the silicone sealant has properly cured.
CAUTION:
For Traction-Lok® axles, first fill the axle with 118 ml (4 ounces) of friction modifier.
NOTE:
Service refill capacities are determined by filling the axle with the specified lubricant to the specified level below the bottom of the filler hole.
CAUTION:
The driveshaft centering socket yoke fits tightly on the pinion flange pilot. To make sure that the driveshaft centering socket yoke seats squarely on the pinion flange, tighten the driveshaft flange bolts evenly in a cross pattern.