LEMON Manuals: Even more car manuals for everyone
Home >> GMC >> 2003 >> Safari Van Cargo, AWD >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 256 (Drive Axles - Except Full Floating Axle) >> Adjustments >> Side Bearing Preload

Side Bearing Preload

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 21 other vehicles, including the 2002 GMC Yukon XL, 2002 GMC Yukon, 2002 GMC Sonoma, 2002 GMC Sierra, and 2002 GMC Savana Special. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
NOTE: Adjust drive pinion depth prior to performing side bearing preload adjustment. See DRIVE PINION DEPTH .
  1. Place differential case assembly into position in housing. Insert 0.170" (4.318 mm) service spacer into left side of axle housing. Slide differential case against service spacer in order to hold spacer in place. Install Side Bearing Backlash Gauge (J-22779) between right side differential side bearing cup (race) and axle housing. See Fig 1.
    2. NOTE: DO NOT overtighten set adjusting knob on side bearing backlash gauge. Overtightening may spread housing and result in incorrect shim selection.
  2. Tighten adjusting knob on side bearing backlash gauge until slight drag is felt when gauge is moved. Remove side bearing backlash gauge and service spacer. Using micrometer, measure thickness of side bearing backlash gauge in 3 places. Calculate and record average of measurements. Measure thickness of service spacer. Add thickness of service spacer and average of gauge measurements. The resultant value is the service shim thickness without preload.
  3. Insert one 0.040" (1.016 mm) service shim between right side differential side bearing cup and axle housing. Insert one BENT 0.040" (1.016 mm) service shim between right side differential side bearing cup and service shim. Install Side Bearing Backlash Gauge (J-22779) between left side differential assembly.
  4. While rotating ring gear back and forth, tighten side bearing backlash gauge adjusting knob until about .000-.001" (0-.025 mm) of backlash exists between ring gear and drive pinion. Remove side bearing backlash gauge. Remove differential case with side bearings and cups. Remove service shims. Using micrometer, measure thickness of side bearing backlash gauge in 3 places. Calculate and record average of measurements. The resulting measurement is the thickness of the left side service shim.
  5. Subtract the left side service shim measurement from the calculated total service shim measurement from step 2)  . This measurement is the thickness of the right side service shim of the axle without preload.
  6. In order to initially set the preload of the differential side bearings and the backlash to approximately 0.005-0.009" (0.013-0.023 mm), take the value of the right side service shim and add 0.008" (0.0203 mm) service shim thickness to this amount. Assemble the left side shim pack using one 0.170" (4.318 mm) service spacer and the appropriate amount of selective service shims equaling the thickness of the left side service shim. Measure the service spacer and the service shims separately. Add the measurements together in order to determine the total shim pack thickness.
  7. Assemble the right side shim pack using one 0.170" (4.318 mm) service spacer and the appropriate amount of selective service shims equaling the thickness of the right side service shim. Measure the service spacer and the service shims separately. Add the measurements together in order to determine the total shim pack thickness. Install the differential assembly with the differential side bearings and the differential side bearing cups.
  8. Install the left side service spacer between the axle housing and the differential assembly. Install the left side selective service shim or shims. The service shim or shims must be installed between the service spacer and the differential side bearing cup. Install the right side service spacer between the axle housing and the differential assembly. Install the right side selective service shim or shims using the Bearing Shim Installer (J-25588), if necessary. The service shim or shims must be installed between the service spacer and the differential side bearing cup.
  9. Install the differential bearing caps and the bolts. Tighten the differential bearing cap bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . Measure the drive pinion and differential side bearing preload using an INCH lbs. torque wrench. See AXLE ASSEMBLY SPECIFICATIONS .
  10. Record the measurement. Calculate the differential side bearing preload by subtracting the drive pinion preload, measured, from the drive pinion and differential case bearing preload. Multiply the value obtained by the axle ratio. See AXLE ASSEMBLY SPECIFICATIONS .
  11. If the differential side bearing preload is not within specifications, add or subtract shim thickness equally from each shim pack as necessary in order to increase/decrease the side bearing preload. Once the differential side bearing preload is correct, measure the backlash and adjust, if necessary. Check backlash. See BACKLASH & FINAL ASSEMBLY .
  12. Once the differential side bearing preload and backlash is correct, perform a gear tooth contact pattern check in order to ensure proper alignment between the ring and pinion gears. See GEAR TOOTH CONTACT PATTERNS article in GENERAL INFORMATION.
Fig 1: Installing Side Bearing Backlash Gauge (J-22779)
G92B22278Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
scientia non olet · About LEMON Manuals