Dodge dakota 2002 Service Manual page 113

3 - 40 FRONT AXLE - C205F
PINION GEAR/RING GEAR
REMOVAL
NOTE: The ring gear and pinion are serviced in a
matched set. Never replace one without replacing
the other.
(1) Remove differential from housing.
(2) Place differential case in a vise with soft jaw
(Fig. 46).
(3) Remove bolts holding ring gear to differential
case.
(4) Drive ring gear from differential case with a
soft hammer (Fig. 46).
Fig. 46 RING GEAR
1 - DIFFERENTIAL CASE
2 - RING GEAR
3 - RAWHIDE HAMMER
(5) Mark the companion yoke and companion
flange for installation reference.
(6) Remove companion flange bolts and tie the pro-
peller shaft to the vehicle underbody.
(7) Rotate companion flange three or four times
and verify flange rotates smoothly.
(8) Record pinion rotating torque an inch pound
torque wrench for installation reference (Fig. 47).
(9) Install bolts into two of the threaded holes in
the companion flange 180° apart.
(10) Position Holder 6719 against the companion
flange and install a bolt and washer into one of the
remaining threaded holes. Tighten the bolts so that
the Holder 6719 is held to the flange.
(11) Remove the pinion nut.
(12) Remove the companion flange with Remover
C-452 (Fig. 48).
(13) Remove pinion from differential housing.
(14) Remove pinion seal with a pry tool or a slide
hammer mounted screw.
Fig. 47 PINION ROTATING TORQUE
1 - PINION COMPANION FLANGE
2 - TORQUE WRENCH
Fig. 48 COMPANION FLANGE REMOVER
1 - COMPANION FLANGE
2 - PULLER TOOL
(15) Remove oil slinger, if equipped and front pin-
ion bearing.
(16) Remove front
Remover 8831 and Handle C-4171 (Fig. 49).
(17) Remove rear pinion bearing cup from housing
(Fig. 50) with Remover 8401 and Handle C-4171.
pinion bearing cup
DR
with