Left Side Gear Backlash Adjustment

Fig 1: View Of Left Side Gear Thrust Washer
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
1. Install the locking differential clutch disc thrust washer.
Fig 2: Left Side Clutch Plates & Guide Clips
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
2. Install the locking differential clutch disc set.
Fig 3: Locking Differential Side Gear
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
3. Install the differential side gear.
Fig 4: Installing Bolt & Washer Assembly Through Differential Case Half
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
NOTE:
• The bolt must be long enough to hold the differential side gear in place and to allow the use of washers and nut.
• The washers must be the proper size in order to fit over the differential side gear, but without causing interference with the with the differential pinion gear and differential spider assembly.
• Tighten the nut and bolt just enough compress the clutch disc but will allow locking differential side gear to rotate.
4. Install the long bolt, washers and nut
5. Install the differential case half into a vise.
6. Clamp on the nut on the bottom of the differential case.
Fig 5: Differential Case Components
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
NOTE:

Index the pinion gear so that one tooth is pointing downward, square to the case half face.

7. Install the differential pinion gears, thrust washers and the locking differential spider into the case half.
Fig 6: Measuring Differential Pinion Gear To Locking Differential Side Gear Backlash
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
8. Install the J 7872  base and the J 8001  indicator on the differential case.
NOTE:

Preload the dial of the J 8001  indicator approximately one turn clockwise.

9. Adjust the J 8001  indicator on the tooth that is square to the differential side gear and set the J 8001  indicator to zero.
NOTE:

In the following procedure, DO NOT unseat the locking differential spider. This will make the backlash reading inaccurate.

10. 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.
    • Record the measurement.
NOTE:

Measure the differential pinion gear to locking differential side gear backlash on the remaining differential pinion gears following the previous steps.

11. The backlash between the differential pinon gear and locking differential side gear should be between 0.051-0.203 mm (0.002-0.008 in).
NOTE:
• If the backlash is greater than, install a thicker differential side gear shim and recheck the backlash.
• If the backlash is less than, use a thinner differential side gear shim and recheck the backlash.
12. Differential side gear shims are available in the following sizes:

Shim Sizes

• 0.254 mm (0.010 in)
• 0.381 mm (0.015 in)
• 0.508 mm (0.020 in)
• 0.635 mm (0.025 in)
• 0.762 mm (0.030 in)
• 0.899 mm (0.035 in)
• 1.016 mm (0.040 in)
• 1.143 mm (0.045 in)
• 1.270 mm (0.050 in)
• 1.397 mm (0.055 in)
• 1.524 mm (0.060 in)