Dodge RAM 1500 1998 Owner's Manual page 193

3 - 112 REAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AA
REAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AA
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
ADJUSTMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
SPECIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
SPECIAL TOOLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
AXLE SHAFTS
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
AXLE BEARINGS
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
PINION SEAL
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
DIFFERENTIAL
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
REAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AA
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
GEAR NOISE
Axle gear noise can be caused by insufficient lubri-
cant, incorrect backlash, incorrect pinion depth, tooth
contact, worn/damaged gears, or the carrier housing
not having the proper offset and squareness.
Gear noise usually happens at a specific speed
range. The noise can also occur during a specific type
of driving condition. These conditions are accelera-
tion, deceleration, coast, or constant load.
When road testing, first warm-up the axle fluid by
driving the vehicle at least 5 miles and then acceler-
ate the vehicle to the speed range where the noise is
the greatest. Shift out-of-gear and coast through the
peak-noise range. If the noise stops or changes
greatly check for:
• Insufficient lubricant.
• Incorrect ring gear backlash.
• Gear damage.
Differential side gears and pinions can be checked
by turning the vehicle. The side gears are loaded dur-
ing turns. They usually do not cause noise during
straight-ahead driving when the gears are unloaded.
A worn pinion shaft can also cause a snapping or a
knocking noise.
REAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
DISASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
DIFFERENTIAL TRAC-RITE
DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
DISASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
CLEANING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
INSPECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
DIFFERENTIAL CASE BEARINGS
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
PINION GEAR/RING GEAR/TONE RING
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
BEARING NOISE
The axle shaft, differential and pinion bearings can
all produce noise when worn or damaged. Bearing
noise can be either a whining, or a growling sound.
Pinion bearings have a constant-pitch noise. This
noise changes only with vehicle speed. Pinion bearing
noise will be higher pitched because it rotates at a
faster rate. Drive the vehicle and load the differen-
tial. If bearing noise occurs, the rear pinion bearing
is the source of the noise. If the bearing noise is
heard during a coast, the front pinion bearing is the
source.
Differential bearings usually produce a low pitch
noise. Differential bearing noise is similar to pinion
bearing noise. The pitch of differential bearing noise
is also constant and varies only with vehicle speed.
Axle shaft bearings produce noise and vibration
when worn or damaged. The noise generally changes
when the bearings are loaded. Road test the vehicle.
Turn the vehicle sharply to the left and to the right.
This will load the bearings and change the noise
level. Where axle bearing damage is slight, the noise
is usually not noticeable at speeds above 30 m.p.h.
LOW SPEED KNOCK
Low speed knock is generally caused by:
• Worn U-joint(s).
• Worn side-gear thrust washers.
• Worn pinion shaft bore.
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