Side bearing preload is necessary to maintain the correct
bearing pressure on both sides of the differential case so that the differential
case will turn evenly at all speeds. Side bearing preload is measured
by the distance between the side bearing caps or case spread. Once the
differential side bearing preload has been adjusted, it must be maintained
throughout the differential backlash adjustment procedure. Setting differential
backlash is very important to the service life of the ring and the pinion
gears. Setting differential backlash determines the amount of depth at
which the ring gear will contact the pinion gear. This determines the
distance of the pinion gear teeth from the drive side and the coast side
of the ring gear teeth. The deeper the gears mesh, the less amount of
backlash. The more shallow the mesh, the more backlash is created. This
adjustment is vital for correct differential operation.
Tools Required
- Use the J 37760
until it no longer makes contact with
the right differential side bearing race in order to loosen the right differential
side bearing adjuster (1).
- Use the J 37760
until
the ring gear is fully engaged with the pinion gear (0.000 backlash) in order
to tighten the left differential side bearing adjuster.
- Inspect the right adjuster. Ensure the right adjuster is not making
contact with the right side bearing race.
- Grasp the pinion flange and rotating the pinion gear several times
in order to inspect the pinion gear for binding.
- Install a J 8001
on the differential carrier between
the center of each side bearing cap (1) to measure case spread.
- Use a J 37760
until
the adjuster makes contact with the right side bearing race in order to tighten
the right adjuster.
- Rotate the J 8001
adjustable face until the indicator needle reads 0.
- Adjust the differential side bearing preload by tightening the
right adjuster using J 37760
until the J 8001
reads
0.0508-0.1524 mm (0.002-0.006 in). This specification
indicates the amount of case spread between the centers of both side bearing
caps.