Drive Pinion, Ring Gear Tooth Contact Inspection
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Mazda RX-8. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Apply tooth marking compound evenly to both surfaces of the ring gear.
- Rotate the ring gear back and forth for several times.
- Inspect the tooth contact pattern in 4 locations around the ring gear, and verify that the tooth contact points exhibit the pattern shown in the figure.
- If the tooth contact points are normal, wipe off the marking compound.
- If the tooth contact points are not normal, adjust the pinion height, then adjust the backlash.
- If the toe and flank contact points appear as shown in the figure after the drive pinion and ring gear teeth contact inspection, replace the spacer with a thinner one, and move the drive pinion outward.
- If the heel and face contact points appear as shown in the figure after the drive pinion and ring gear teeth contact inspection, replace the spacer with a thicker one, and move the drive pinion inward.