Dodge RAM 1500 1998 Owner's Manual page 164

DR
REAR AXLE - 9 1/4 (Continued)
Condition
Gear Teeth Broke
Axle Noise
REMOVAL
(1) Raise and support the vehicle.
(2) Position a lift under axle and secure axle to
lift.
(3) Remove wheels and tires assemblies.
(4) Remove all brake components.
(5) Remove axle vent hose.
(6) Mark propeller shaft and companion flange for
installation alignment reference.
(7) Remove propeller shaft.
(8) Remove shock absorbers from axle (Fig. 1).
(9) Remove U-bolts from axle (Fig. 2).
(10) Remove axle from the vehicle.
INSTALLATION
(1) Raise axle with lift and align to the leaf spring
centering bolts.
Possible Causes
1. Overloading.
2. Erratic clutch operation.
3. Ice-spotted pavement.
4. Improper adjustments.
1. Insufficient lubricant.
2. Improper ring gear and pinion
adjustment.
3. Unmatched ring gear and pinion.
4. Worn teeth on ring gear and/or
pinion.
5. Loose pinion bearings.
6. Loose differential bearings.
7. Mis-aligned or sprung ring gear.
8. Loose differential bearing cap
bolts.
9. Housing not machined properly.
(2) Install axle U-bolts and tighten to 149 N·m
(110 ft. lbs.).
(3) Install shock absorbers to axle and tighten to
specification.
(4) Install all brake comonents.
(5) Install axle vent hose.
(6) Align propeller shaft and pinion companion
flange reference marks and tighten companion flange
bolts to 115 N·m (85 ft. lbs.).
(7) Install the wheels and tires.
(8) Fill differential to specifications.
(9) Remove lift from axle and lower the vehicle.
ADJUSTMENTS
Ring gear and pinion are supplied as matched sets.
Identifying numbers for the ring gear and pinion are
painted onto the pinion gear shaft (Fig. 3) and the
side of the ring gear. A plus (+) number, minus (–)
REAR AXLE - 9 1/4
Correction
1. Replace gears. Examine other
gears and bearings for possible
damage.
2. Replace gears and examine the
remaining parts for damage. Avoid
erratic clutch operation.
3. Replace gears and examine
remaining parts for damage.
4. Replace gears and examine
remaining parts for damage. Ensure
ring gear backlash is correct.
1. Fill differential with the correct
fluid type and quantity.
2. Check ring gear and pinion
contact pattern. Adjust backlash or
pinion depth.
3. Replace gears with a matched
ring gear and pinion.
4. Replace ring gear and pinion.
5. Adjust pinion bearing pre-load.
6. Adjust differential bearing
pre-load.
7. Measure ring gear run-out.
Replace components as necessary.
8. Inspect differential components
and replace as necessary. Ensure
that the bearing caps are torqued
tot he proper specification.
9. Replace housing.
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