Jeep Cherokee 1988 Quick Start Manual page 5

size end play shims on each side of differential case. Position and
install ring gear on differential case. Install replacement ring gear
bolts and tighten standard axle ring gear bolts to 70-90 ft. lbs.
(95-122 N.m). Tighten heavy duty drive axle bolts to 105 ft. lbs.
(142 N.m).
4) Check ring gear backlash. See RING GEAR BACKLASH in
ADJUSTMENTS. Lightly lubricate differential bearings, cups, gears and
thrust washers with axle lubricant. Install bearing cups on
differential bearings. Install differential in axle housing.
5) Using a soft faced hammer, tap outer edges of differential
bearing cups to seat them in housing. Install differential bearings
caps and tighten cap bolts to 57 ft. lbs. (77 N.m).
6) Recheck and verify ring gear backlash has not changed.
Install axle housing cover. Tighten cover bolts to 14 ft. lbs. (19 N.
m). Refill axle with 75-90W gear lubricant.
ADJUSTMENTS
DRIVE PINION DEPTH
1) Check numbers painted on drive pinion and ring gear. First
number on pinion must match number on ring gear. Second number on
pinion is pinion depth variance. If number is preceded by a plus sign,
add that number to standard pinion depth. If number is preceded by a
minus sign, subtract that amount from standard pinion depth. This will
give desired pinion depth. Record this measurement for future
reference.
2) If numbers painted on drive gear and ring gear do not
match, gears are not a matched set and should not be used. Some
factory installed sets may have .01" (.25 mm) or .02" (.50 mm)
machined off pinion end face.
3) Identifying numbers will appear as "+23". Number "2"
indicates .02" (.50 mm) was removed from end face and number "3" is
pinion depth variance. If marked "+16", number "1" indicates .010"
(.25 mm) was removed from end face and number "6" is pinion depth
variance.
4) Standard pinion depth on standard drive axle is 2.095"
(53.21 mm). Standard pinion depth on heavy duty drive axle is 2.547"
(64.69 mm).
Fig. 3: Pinion Depth & Preload Shim Location
5) Measure thickness of original pinion depth shim. Note
pinion depth variance numbers marked on old and new pinion gears.
Refer to PINION DEPTH SHIM ADJUSTMENT SPECIFICATIONS at end of this