Pinion Gear Height And Pinion Bearing Preload

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Make sure all parts are clean and that the bearings are well lubricated.
Assemble the pinion gear bearings into the pinion pre-load shim selector Tool, J34309.

Fig 1: Assembling Pinion Gear Bearings Into Pinion Pre-Load Shim Selector Tool
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
- Front Pinion Bearing - make sure the J34309-3 front pinion bearing seat is secured tightly against the J34309-2 gauge anvil. Then turn the front pinion bearing pilot, J34309-5, to secure the bearing in its proper position.
- Rear Pinion Bearing - the rear pinion bearing pilot, J34309-15, is used to center the rear pinion bearing only. The rear pinion bearing locking seat, J34309-4, is used to lock the bearing to the assembly.
  
  Fig 2: Identifying Front & Rear Pinion Bearing
  Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Place the pinion preload shim selector Tool, J34309-1, gauge screw assembly with the pinion rear bearing inner cone installed into the final drive housing.

Fig 3: Installing Pinion Preload Shim Selector Tool Gauge Screw Assembly
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Assemble the front pinion bearing inner cone and the J34309-2 gauge anvil together with the J34309-1 gauge screw in the final drive housing. Make sure that the pinion height gauge plate, J34309-16, will turn a full 360 degrees, and tighten the two sections together by hand.

Fig 4: Tightening Two Sections Together By Hand
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Turn the assembly several times to seat the bearings.

Fig 5: Turning Assembly Several Times To Seat Bearings
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Measure the turning torque at the end of the J34309-2 gauge anvil using torque wrench J25765A.
Turning torque specification:

1.0 - 1.3 N.m (10 - 13 kg-cm, 8.7 - 11.3 in-lb)

Fig 6: Measuring Turning Torque At End Of Gauge
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Place the J34309-1 "R200A" pinion height adapter onto the gauge plate and tighten it by hand.
CAUTION: Make sure all machined surfaces are clean.

Fig 7: Placing Pinion Height Adapter Onto Gauge Plate
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.

PINION BEARING PRELOAD WASHER SELECTION
Place the solid pinion bearing spacer, small end first, over the J34309-2 gauge anvil and seat the small end squarely against the tip of the J34309-1 gauge screw in the tool recessed portion.

Fig 8: Identifying Pinion Bearing Preload Washer Selection(1 Of 2)
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.

Fig 9: Identifying Pinion Bearing Preload Washer Selection(2 Of 2)
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Select the correct thickness of pinion bearing preload adjusting washer using a standard gauge of 3.5 mm (0.138 in) and your J34309-101 feeler gauge. The exact measure you get with your gauges is the thickness of the adjusting washer required. Select the correct washer.
Drive pinion bearing preload adjusting washer:

Refer to SDS, TOTAL PRELOAD ADJUSTMENT .

Fig 10: Measuring with Gauges Thickness Of Adjusting Washer
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Set your selected, correct pinion bearing preload adjusting washer aside for use when assembling the pinion gear and bearings into the final drive.

Fig 11: Assembling Pinion Gear And Bearings Into Final Drive
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.

PINION HEIGHT ADJUSTING WASHER SELECTION
Now, position the side bearing discs, J25269-4, and arbor firmly into the side bearing bores.

Fig 12: Identifying Pinion Height Adjusting Washer Selection
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Install the side bearing caps and tighten the cap bolts.
Specification:

88 - 98 N.m (9 - 10 kg-m, 65 - 72 ft-lb)

Fig 13: Tightening Cap Bolts
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Select the correct standard pinion height adjusting washer thickness by using a standard gauge of 3.0 mm (0.118 in) and your J34309-101 feeler gauge. Measure the gap between the J34309-11 "R200A" pinion height adapter and the arbor.

Fig 14: Selecting Correct Standard Pinion Height Adjusting Washer Thickness By Using Standard Gauge
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Write down your exact total measurement.

Fig 15: Writing Down Measurement
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Correct the pinion height washer size by referring to the "pinion head number".
There are two numbers painted on the pinion gear. The first one refers to the pinion and ring gear as a matched set and should be the same as the number on the ring gear. The second number is the "pinion head height number", and it refers to the ideal pinion height from standard for quietest operation. Use the following chart to determine the correct pinion height washer. Refer to SDS, TOTAL PRELOAD ADJUSTMENT .

Fig 16: Identifying Pinion Head Height Number
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.

Fig 17: Pinion Head Number Chart
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Remove the J34309 pinion preload shim selector tool from the final drive housing and disassemble to retrieve the pinion bearings.

Fig 18: Disassembling To Retrieve Pinion Bearings
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.