Tooth Contact

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 Nissan Armada. 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
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Rotate the drive gear back and forth several times. Then check for correct drive pinion to drive gear tooth contact as shown below.
CAUTION: Check tooth contact on drive side and reverse side.

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

Fig 3: Identifying Pinion Height
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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 "INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT ".

Fig 4: Moving Drive Pinion Closer To Drive Gear
Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
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 "INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT ".

Fig 5: Moving Drive Pinion Farther From Drive Gear
Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.