Drive Pinion Installation, DANA/SPICER, FRONT DRIVE

Fig. 7 Drive pinion adjusting shim thickness chart th gauge tool selection, model 44 & 50 axles:

Two separate adjustments affect drive pinion and ring gear tooth contact. They are pinion depth (location) and backlash. The pinion locating shim pack is installed between the drive pinion inner bearing cup and carrier housing. This shim pack and inner oil slinger and oil baffle, if equipped, controls the position of the pinion. Adding shims moves the pinion toward the ring gear and removing shims moves the pinion away from the ring gear. Ring gears and pinions are supplied in matched sets with the standard or metric markings. On the button of each drive pinion is marked a plus (+), a minus ( - ) or a zero (0). These markings indicate the position for each gear set. The position is determined by the amount of shims between the inner pinion bearing cup and carrier bearing bore. For example, if a new pinion is marked ``positive'' (+) +3 (+8-metric) and an old pinion is marked ``0'', shims measuring (.003 inch) (.08 mm) must be removed between the drive pinion and inner bearing cup and retainer. If the old ring and pinion shim is used, measure the slinger and baffle and each shim separately and add each shim measurement to total the original measurement. If slinger and oil baffle is not used, install drive pinion with the original shim pack and check pinion location with a suitable depth gauge. If a new ring and pinion is being installed, note the plus (+) minus ( - ) or zero (0) marking on the bottom of the pinion assembly. Add or subtract shims, according to the chart to compensate for differences between the old and new pinion. A new ring gear and drive pinion is always installed as a matched set and never separately. Ensure that the same matching number appears on both the drive pinion and ring gear. Install the correct shim pack of the drive pinion and place the pinion into the carrier, then check pinion depth. Refer to Fig. 7 for shim adjustment for pinion replacement and to ``Bearing Cup & Drive Pinion Installation'' to complete procedure.