Dodge RAM 1500 1998 Owner's Manual page 141

3 - 60 FRONT AXLE - 9 1/4 AA
FRONT AXLE - 9 1/4 AA (Continued)
Fig. 8 GAUGE TOOLS IN HOUSING
1. PINION HEIGHT BLOCK
2. PINION BLOCK
3. ARBOR
4. ARBOR DISCS
(8) Slowly slide the scooter block across the pinion
height block over to the arbor (Fig. 9). Move scooter
block till dial indicator crests the arbor, then record
the highest reading.
Fig. 9 PINION DEPTH MEASUREMENT
1. DIAL INDICATOR
2. ARBOR
3. SCOOTER BLOCK
(9) Select a shim equal to the dial indicator read-
ing.
(10) Install the select shim between the rear pin-
ion bearing and the pinion gear head.
DIFFERENTIAL CASE BEARING PRELOAD AND
GEAR BACKLASH
Backlash is adjusted by moving the adjusters in
and out or both. By moving the adjusters the case/
ring gear will move closer or further away from the
pinion. In most cases this adjustment can be used to
achieve the correct gear tooth pattern and set the
case bearing preload.
(1) Remove adjuster lock bolts and adjuster locks
(Fig. 10).
Fig. 10 ADJUSTER LOCK BOLT
1 - DIFFERENTIAL CASE
2 - ADJUSTER LOCK
3 - ADJUSTER LOCK BOLT
4 - BEARING CAP BOLT
(2) Loosen the differential bearing caps.
(3) Slide differential case toward the pinion gear
until the gears make contact/zero backlash. If zero
backlash cannot be obtained, turn the pinion side
adjuster until zero backlash is obtained.
(4) Holding the differential case toward the pinion
gear, turn bearing adjusters with Spanner Wrench
8883 until they make contact with the differential
bearings/cups.
(5) Back off the ring gear side adjuster 4 holes, to
obtain initial ring gear backlash.
(6) Install ring gear side adjuster lock and bolt. Do
not tighten adjuster lock bolt at this time.
(7) Tighten pinion
against the differential case bearing cup.
(8) Rotate the pinion several times to seat the dif-
ferential bearings.
gear side adjuster
DR
firmly