Dodge dakota 2002 Service Manual page 198

DR
PINION GEAR/RING GEAR/TONE RING (Continued)
(7) Install pinion into the housing and place front
pinion bearing onto the pinion shaft. Draw the pinion
shaft into the front bearing with Installer 8981 (Fig.
60).
Fig. 60 PINION GEAR INSTALLER
1 - INSTALLER
2 - DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING
(8) Install new pinion seal (Fig. 61) with Installer
8896 and Handle C-4171.
Fig. 61 PINION SEAL INSTALLER
1 - HANDLE
2 - INSTALLER
(9) Apply a light coat of teflon sealant to the pin-
ion flange splines.
(10) Hold the pinion and lightly tap the pinion
flange onto the pinion, until a few threads are show-
ing.
(11) Install pinion flange washer and new pinion
nut.
(12) Hold pinion flange with Flange Wrench 8979
(Fig. 62) and tighten pinion nut until pinion end play
is taken up.
(13) Rotate pinion several times to seat bearings.
REAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AA
Fig. 62 FLANGE WRENCH
1 - FLANGE WRENCH
2 - PINION FLANGE
(14) Measure pinion rotating torque with an inch
pound torque wrench (Fig. 63). Tighten pinion nut in
small increments until pinion rotating torque is:
• New Pinion Bearings: 1.7-2.8 N·m (15-25 in.
lbs.)
• Original Pinion Bearings: 1.1-2.2 N·m (10-20
in. lbs.)
Fig. 63 PINION ROTATING TORQUE
1 - PINION FLANGE
2 - TORQUE WRENCH
(15) Rotate pinion several times then verify pinion
rotating torque again.
(16) Position the ring gear on differential case and
start two new ring gear bolts.
(17) Install the rest of the new ring gear bolts and
tighten them alternately to seat the ring gear.
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