Dodge R1500 1999 Service Manual page 443

respective differential bearings for reassembly reference.
6) Remove bolt and adjuster lock (if not previously removed).
Loosen, but DO NOT remove, bearing cap bolts. Using Adjuster Rotator
(C-4164), unscrew adjusters from bearing caps. See Figs. 1 and 2.
Remove bolts, bearing caps, adjusters, and differential assembly.
7) Using Holder (C-3281), hold pinion flange. Remove pinion
nut and washer. Scribe reference mark on pinion flange-to-pinion for
reassembly reference. Using appropriate puller, remove pinion flange
from pinion. Remove oil seal for pinion from axle housing. Using soft
drift punch and hammer, drive pinion from axle housing.
NOTE: Front pinion bearing, bearing race, and collapsible spacer
must be replaced after removing pinion from axle housing.
8) Drive pinion bearing races from axle housing. Remove
pinion bearing from pinion. Remove shim(s) located behind pinion
bearing on pinion. Record shim thickness for reassembly reference.
CAUTION: DO NOT remove ring gear from differential carrier unless
components must be replaced or differential carrier flange
runout must be checked.
9) If removing ring gear (and exciter ring on RWAL brake
equipped models), mount differential carrier in soft-jaw vise. Remove
and discard left-hand thread ring gear bolts. Using soft-face hammer,
drive ring gear from differential carrier. Tap exciter ring from
differential carrier, if equipped.
10) If disassembling differential carrier, rotate side gears
and align pinion gears with opening in differential carrier. Remove
pinion gears and pinion gear thrust washers. See Fig. 1. Remove side
gears and side gear thrust washers.
11) If checking differential carrier flange runout, install
differential carrier, bearing races, bearing caps and adjusters in
axle housing. Ensure components are installed in original location.
Thread adjusters into bearing caps.
12) Tighten bearing cap bolts enough to just hold bearing
caps against axle housing. Using Adjuster Rotator (C-4164), tighten
adjuster so no side play exists. Side play can be checked by prying
differential carrier to one side.
13) Install dial indicator on axle housing with stem resting
against differential carrier flange. See Fig. 2. Rotate differential
carrier and note differential carrier flange runout. Replace
differential carrier if runout exceeds .003" (.08 mm).
14) Remove dial indicator, bearing caps, adjusters, bearing
races and differential carrier. Remove differential bearings from
differential carrier (if necessary).
15) Use appropriate puller and adapter (bearing splitter) to
remove bearing from carrier. On models with Rear Wheel Anti-Lock
(RWAL) brakes, if removing exciter ring, use hammer and soft drift to
tap exciter ring from differential carrier.