Tooth Contact

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Apply red lead to the drive gear.
NOTE: Apply red lead to both faces of three to four gears, at four locations evenly spaced on the drive gear.

Fig 1: Applying Red Lead To Drive Gear
Rotate the drive gear back and forth several times. Then check for correct drive pinion to drive gear tooth contact as shown.
CAUTION: Check tooth contact on drive side and reverse side.

Fig 2: Identifying Drive Pinion Gear To Drive Gear Tooth Contact
If the tooth contact is improperly adjusted, follow the procedure below to adjust the pinion height (dimension X).

Fig 3: Adjusting Pinion Height
- If the tooth contact is near the face (face contact), or near the heel (heel contact), use a thicker drive pinion height adjusting washers to move the drive pinion closer to the drive gear. Refer to "DRIVE PINION HEIGHT ADJUSTING WASHER ".
  
  Fig 4: Identifying Face Contact
- If the tooth contact is near the flank (flank contact), or near the toe (toe contact), use a thinner drive pinion height adjusting washers to move the drive pinion farther from the drive gear. Refer to "DRIVE PINION HEIGHT ADJUSTING WASHER ".
  
  Fig 5: Identifying Flank Contact