Drive Pinion, Ring Gear Tooth Contact Inspection

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 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.
Fig 1: Identifying Ring Gear Tooth Contact Pattern
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
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.

Fig 2: Identifying Ring Gear Tooth Contact Pattern (Toe And Flank Contact)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
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.

Fig 3: Identifying Ring Gear Tooth Contact Pattern (Heel And Face Contact)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.