Dodge dakota 2002 Service Manual page 118

DR
FRONT AXLE - 9 1/4 AA
DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
ADJUSTMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
SPECIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
SPECIAL TOOLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
AXLE SHAFTS
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
DISASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
AXLE SHAFT SEALS
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
FRONT AXLE - 9 1/4 AA
DESCRIPTION
The axle consists of a cast iron center casting dif-
ferential housing with axle shaft tubes extending
from each side. The tubes are pressed into the differ-
ential housing and welded. The design has the cen-
terline of the pinion set above the centerline of the
ring gear. The axle has full-floating axle shafts,
meaning the shaft are supported by the hub bear-
ings. The axle has a vent used to relieve internal
pressure caused by lubricant vaporization and inter-
nal expansion.
OPERATION
The axle receives power from the front propeller
shaft. The propeller shaft is connected to the pinion
gear which rotates the differential through the gear
mesh with the ring gear bolted to the differential
case. The engine power is transmitted to the axle
shafts through the pinion mate and side gears. The
side gears are splined to the axle shafts.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
GEAR NOISE
Axle gear noise can be caused by insufficient lubri-
cant, incorrect backlash, tooth contact, worn/damaged
gears or the carrier housing not having the proper
offset and squareness.
FRONT AXLE - 9 1/4 AA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page
FRONT AXLE - 9 1/4 AA
PINION SEAL
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
DIFFERENTIAL
DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
DISASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
DIFFERENTIAL CASE BEARINGS
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
PINION GEAR/RING GEAR
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
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. They usually do not cause
noise during straight-ahead driving when the gears
are unloaded. The side gears are loaded during vehi-
cle turns. A worn pinion mate shaft can also cause a
snapping or a knocking noise.
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
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