Dodge dakota 2002 Service Manual page 91

3 - 18 FRONT AXLE - C205F
FRONT AXLE - C205F
DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
ADJUSTMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
SPECIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
SPECIAL TOOLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
AXLE SHAFTS
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
AXLE SHAFT SEALS
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
AXLE BEARINGS
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
FRONT AXLE - C205F
DESCRIPTION
The axle consists of an alumunum center section
with an axle tube extending from one side. The tube
is pressed into the differential housing. The power is
transferred from the axle through two constant veloc-
ity (C/V) drive shafts to the wheel hubs. The drive
shafts are identical and interchangeable.
OPERATION
The axle receives power from the 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.
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.
FRONT AXLE - C205F
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page
PINION SEAL
DIFFERENTIAL
DIFFERENTIAL CASE BEARINGS
PINION GEAR/RING GEAR
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:
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
all produce noise when worn or damaged. Bearing
noise can be either a whining, or a growling sound.
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
heard during a coast, the front pinion bearing is the
source.
duce a low pitch noise. Differential bearing noise is
similar to pinion bearing noise. The pitch of differen-
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
DISASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
When road testing, first warm-up the axle fluid by
• Check for insufficient lubricant.
• Incorrect ring gear backlash.
• Gear damage.
Differential side gears and pinions can be checked
The axle shaft, differential and pinion bearings can
Pinion bearings have a constant-pitch noise. This
Worn or damaged differential bearings usually pro-
DR
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