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Home >> Hummer >> 2008 >> H2 4D Utility Wagon >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 339 (Rear Drive Axle) >> Repair Instructions >> Differential Carrier Bearing Preload Adjustment (9.5LD Inch Axle) >> Adjustment Procedure

Adjustment Procedure

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    WARNING:

    To prevent personal injury and/or component damage, support the differential case when removing the case from the axle housing. If the case is not supported, the differential case could fall and cause personal injury or damage to the differential case.

  1. Remove the differential assembly, if necessary.
  2. Using an inch-pound torque wrench, measure the rotating torque of the drive pinion bearing. should be 1.7-3.4 N.m (15-30 lb in) for new bearings and 1.1-2.3 N.m (10-20 lb in) for used bearings.
  3. If the rotating torque of the drive pinion is less than: 1.7 N.m (15 lb in) for new bearings or 1.1 N.m (10 lb in) for used bearings, tighten the pinion in small increments until the specified rotating torque is obtained.
  4. If the rotating torque of the drive pinion is greater than 3.4 N.m (30 lb in) for new bearings or 2.3 N.m (20 lb in) for used bearings, replace the collapsible spacer. Refer to Differential Drive Pinion Gear Bearing Replacement (8.6 Inch Axle) , Differential Drive Pinion Gear Bearing Replacement (10.5 Inch Axle) .
  5. Install the differential assembly, if necessary.
  6. Support the differential assembly in order to prevent the differential assembly from falling out of the axle housing.
    7. NOTE:

    DO NOT force the ring gear into contact with the drive pinion.

  7. Slide the differential case assembly towards the right side axle housing until the ring gear contacts the drive pinion. This is the ZERO backlash point.
  8. If the ZERO backlash cannot be obtained, turn the differential bearing adjuster nut into the axle housing using the J 24429  spanner until the differential ring gear fully contacts the drive pinion to obtain the ZERO backlash.
  9. While holding the ring gear against the pinion, turn the differential bearing adjuster nut out from the axle housing using the J 24429  spanner until it contacts the differential side bearing.
  10. Using the J 24429  spanner, turn the adjuster nut out from the rear axle housing an additional 2 slots.
  11. Install the adjuster nut lock and the adjuster nut lock bolt.
  12. Remove the left side differential bearing cap bolts.
  13. Remove the left side differential bearing cap.
    14. Fig 1: Special Tools J 22779
    GM841723Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  14. Install the J 22779  gauge into the left side axle housing between the differential bearing bore and the differential bearing cup.
    15. NOTE:

    Over-tightening may spread the axle housing and result in incorrect shim selection.

  15. Tighten the knob of the J 22779  gauge until there is moderate drag when the J 22779  gauge is moved.
  16. Remove the J 22779  gauge and measure it at three different points.
  17. Calculate the average of the 3 measurements. The value is the shim thickness required in order to set the initial backlash of the differential assembly.
    18. NOTE:

    Verify the thickness of the service shim using a micrometer.

  18. Select a service shim of approximately the same thickness to install into the rear axle housing.
  19. Install the service shim into the axle housing between the differential bearing bore and the differential bearing cup.
    20. NOTE:

    In step 20, only finger tighten the differential bearing cap bolts.

  20. Install the left side differential bearing cap and the bolts.
  21. Remove the differential bearing adjuster nut lock bolt and the lock.
  22. Using the J 24429  spanner, tighten the differential bearing adjuster nut to ensure that the differential case assembly has a solid contact with the service shim.
  23. Rotate the pinion several times in order to seat the bearings.
  24. Using the J 24429  spanner, loosen the differential bearing adjuster nut until the nut is free from the differential side bearing.
  25. Using the J 24429  spanner, the differential bearing adjuster nut until the differential bearing adjuster nut contacts the bearing.
  26. Using the J 24429  spanner, tighten the differential bearing adjuster nut additional 3 slots for new bearings and an additional 2 slots for used bearings
  27. Install the right differential bearing adjuster nut lock.
    28. NOTE:

    Do not torque the bolt at this time.

  28. Install the right differential bearing adjuster nut lock bolt.
    29. CAUTION:

    Refer to Fastener Caution .

  29. Tighten the differential bearing cap bolts to 85 N.m (63 lb ft).
  30. Tighten the differential bearing adjuster nut lock bolt to 26 N.m (19 lb ft).
    31. NOTE:

    Rotate the pinion several times to ensure the bearings have seated.

  31. Using an inch-pound torque wrench, measure the drive pinion and differential case side bearing preload should be 0.57-1.13 N.m (5-10 lb in) greater than the rotating torque of the drive pinion measured earlier. Record the measurement.
  32. Calculate the differential side bearing preload by subtracting the drive pinion preload, measured in Step 2, from the drive pinion and differential case bearing preload, measured in Step 32.
  33. Multiply the value obtained by the axle ratio. The differential case side bearing preload should be 1.7-4.0 N.m (15-35 lb in).
    34. NOTE:

    Turning the adjuster nut in or out will increase/decrease the side bearing preload.

  34. Using the J 24429  spanner to tighten the adjuster nut one slot at a time in or out if the differential case side bearing preload is not within specifications.
  35. Once the differential side bearing preload is correct, measure the drive pinion to differential assembly backlash and adjust, if necessary. Refer to Backlash Adjustment (10.5 Inch Axle) , Backlash Adjustment (9.5 LD Axle) , Backlash Adjustment (8.6 Inch Axle) .
  36. Differential side bearing shims are available in the following sizes:

    Shim Sizes 

    • 5.59 mm (0.220 in)
    • 5.64 mm (0.222 in)
    • 5.69 mm (0.224 in)
    • 5.74 mm (0.226 in)
    • 5.79 mm (0.228 in)
    • 5.84 mm (0.230 in)
    • 5.89 mm (0.232 in)
    • 5.94 mm (0.234 in)
    • 5.99 mm (0.236 in)
    • 6.05 mm (0.238 in)
    • 6.10 mm (0.240 in)
    • 6.15 mm (0.242 in)
    • 6.20 mm (0.244 in)
    • 6.25 mm (0.246 in)
    • 6.30 mm (0.248 in)
    • 6.35 mm (0.250 in)
    • 6.40 mm (0.252 in)
    • 6.45 mm (0.254 in)
    • 6.50 mm (0.256 in)
    • 6.55 mm (0.258 in)
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