Carrier & Pinion Shaft
- Check axle shaft deviation. Remove differential carrier cover. Remove side gear shaft and oil seal. Check ring gear runout and backlash. Check gear tooth contact pattern. Check side gear backlash while holding one pinion gear toward case. If side gear backlash is not within specification thrust washers should be replaced.
- Measure drive pinion total preload. Put alignment marks on bearing cap and differential carrier. Remove side bearing caps. Remove side bearing preload adjusting plate washers.
- Measure plate washers and record thicknesses. Remove differential case and ring gear. Remove differential case side bearing outer races. Place reference marks on parts for installation in their original position.
- Hold drive pinion flange and remove pinion nut. Remove drive pinion flange and oil seal. Remove oil slinger, front bearing and collapsible spacer. Remove drive pinion from differential carrier. Press rear bearing from pinion shaft.
- Drive front and rear drive pinion bearing outer races from carrier. Inspect bearings, outer races and pinion shaft for damage and replace if needed. Ring gear and drive pinion are a matched set, and must be replaced together. Discard collapsible spacer.