Dodge dakota 2002 Service Manual page 215

3 - 142 REAR AXLE - 11 1/2 AA
DIFFERENTIAL (Continued)
REMOVAL
(1) Remove fill hole plug from the differential
housing cover.
(2) Remove differential housing cover and drain
the lubricant.
(3) Remove axle shafts.
(4) Remove adjuster lock bolts and adjuster locks
(Fig. 27).
Fig. 27 ADJUSTER LOCKS
1 - LOCK BOLT
2 - ADJUSTER LOCK
3 - ADJUSTER
4 - BEARING CAP
(5) Mark bearing caps left and right for installa-
tion reference.
(6) Remove bearing cap bolts and remove bearing
caps.
(7) Loosen differential bearing adjusters (Fig. 28)
with Spanner Wrench 8883.
(8) Remove differential case from the housing.
(9) Remove bearing cups and tag them left and
right for installation reference.
DISASSEMBLY
(1) Remove ring gear.
(2) Remove pinion shaft with a hammer and punch
from the side with the hole in the pinion shaft (Fig.
29).
(3) Rotate one pinion gear with thrust washer
(Fig. 30) to the differential window and remove the
gear.
Fig. 28 ADJUSTERS
1 - BEARING CUP
2 - ADJUSTER
3 - BEARING CUP
4 - ADJUSTER
Fig. 29 PINION SHAFT
1 - PINION GEAR
2 - PINION SHAFT
3 - EXCITER RING
DR