Dodge RAM 1500 1998 Owner's Manual page 142

DR
FRONT AXLE - 9 1/4 AA (Continued)
(9) Loosen pinion gear side adjuster until it is no
longer in contact with the bearing cup, then tighten
it until it makes contact.
(10) Tighten pinion gear side adjuster an addi-
tional:
• New Bearings: 6 Adjuster Holes
• Original Bearings: 4 Adjuster Holes
(11) Install pinion gear side adjuster lock and bolt.
Do not tighten adjuster lock bolt at this time.
(12) Tighten bearing cap bolts to 85 N·m (63 ft.
lbs.).
(13) Tighten adjuster lock bolts to 25 N·m (18 ft.
lbs.).
(14) Measure ring gear backlash with a Dial Indi-
cator C-3339 and Dial Indicator Stud L-4438 at eight
points around the drive side of the ring gear (Fig.
11). The backlash
(0.003-0.010 in) with
0.13-0.18 mm (0.005-0.007 in).
NOTE: Backlash measurement should not vary
more than 0.05 mm (0.002 in) between measuring
points. If measurement does vary inspect the gears
for burrs, the differential case flange and ring gear
mounting.
Fig. 11 RING GEAR BACKLASH
1 - DIAL INDICATOR
2 - RING GEAR
GEAR TOOTH CONTACT PATTERN
Gear tooth contact pattern is used to verify the cor-
rect running position of the ring and pinion gears.
This will produce low noise and long gear life. Gears
which are not positioned properly may be noisy and
have shortened gear life.
(1) Wipe clean each tooth of the ring gear.
should be 0.08-0.25
a preferred backlash
(2) Apply gear marking compound to all of the ring
gear teeth.
(3) Verify bearing cap bolts are torque to specifica-
tion.
(4) Apply the brakes lightly to create a 14 N·m (10
ft. lbs.) pinion rotating torque.
(5) Rotate the pinion/pinion yoke 4 full revolutions
in each directions.
(6) Read gear tooth contact pattern:
• Gear contact pattern is correct (Fig. 12). Back-
lash and pinion depth is correct.
mm
of
Fig. 12 CORRECT CONTACT PATTERN
• Ring gear too far away from pinion gear (Fig.
13). Decrease backlash, by moving the ring closer to
the pinion gear using the adjusters.
Fig. 13 INCORRECT BACKLASH
1 - COAST SIDE TOE
2 - DRIVE SIDE HEEL
• Ring gear too close to pinion gear (Fig. 14).
Increase backlash, by moving the ring away from the
pinion gear using the adjusters.
• Ring gear too far away from pinion gear (Fig.
15). Decrease backlash, by moving the ring closer to
the pinion gear using the adjusters.
• Ring gear too close to pinion gear (Fig. 16).
Increase backlash, by moving the ring away from the
pinion gear using the adjusters.
FRONT AXLE - 9 1/4 AA 3 - 61