Gear Contact Pattern

Fig 1: Gear Contact Pattern

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1. Wipe clean each tooth of the ring gear.
2. Apply gear marking compound to all of the ring gear teeth.
3. Verify bearing cap bolts are torque specification.
4. Apply parking brakes lightly to create at 14 N.m (10 ft. lbs.) pinion rotating torque.
5. Rotate the pinion/pinion yoke 4 full revolutions in each directions.
6. Read gear tooth contact pattern.

Gear contact pattern is correct. Backlash and pinion depth is correct.

Fig 2: Ring Gear Too Far From Pinion Gear

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Ring gear is too far away from the pinion gear, coast side toe (1) drive side heel (2). Decrease backlash by moving ring closer to the pinion gear using the adjusters.

Fig 3: Ring Gear Too Close To Pinion Gear

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

Ring gear is too close to the pinion gear, drive side toe (1) coast side heel (2). Increase backlash by moving ring away from the pinion gear using the adjusters.

Fig 4: Ring Gear Too Far From Pinion Gear

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

Ring gear is too far away from the pinion gear, drive side heel (1) coast side heel (2). Decrease backlash by moving ring gear closer to the pinion gear using the adjusters.

Fig 5: Ring Gear Too Close To Pinion Gear

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

Ring gear is too close to the pinion gear, drive side toe (1) coast side toe (2). Increase backlash by moving ring gear away from the pinion gear using the adjusters.

Fig 6: Pinion Gear Set Too Low

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Pinion gear is set too low. Increase pinion gear height, by increasing pinion depth shim thickness.

Fig 7: Pinion Gear Set Too High

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Pinion gear is set too high. Decrease pinion height by decreasing the pinion depth shim thickness.