Differential Case: Service and Repair

Differential Case





Special Tool(s)





Material

Removal
1. Remove the driveshaft.
2. Remove the axle shafts.
3. Wipe the lubricant from the internal working parts and inspect the parts for wear and damage.





4. Rotate the differential assembly to check for roughness indicating bearing/gear damage.





5. Using a suitable dial indicator and the special tool, measure and record the differential ring gear backlash between the teeth in four opposing places.





6. CAUTION: Mark the position of the differential bearing caps, as the arrows may not be visible. Always install the bearing caps in their identical locations and positions.

Remove the differential bearing caps.
1 Remove the bolts.
2 Remove the differential bearing caps.





7. WARNING: Do not allow the differential assembly to fall.

CAUTION: Place a wood block between the pry bar and the differential housing to protect the machined surface from damage.

Using a pry bar and a wood block, remove the differential assembly from the differential housing.





8. Remove the bolts.





9. CAUTION: Do not damage the differential ring gear bolt hole threads.

Insert a punch in the bolt holes, and drive off the differential ring gear.
10. If the differential ring gear backlash variation between teeth measurement, taken at the beginning of this procedure, did not exceed the specification, proceed to Step 14. If the differential ring gear backlash variation between teeth measurement, taken at the beginning of this procedure, exceeded the specification, the cause may be a warped differential ring gear or differential case/differential bearing damage. Proceed as follows to verify the cause of the excessive backlash.





11. NOTE: Visually inspect the differential bearing cups and cones for discoloration indicating bearing overheating or failure.

Position the differential assembly, including the differential bearing cups and differential bearing shims as removed, in the differential housing. Install the differential bearing caps and the bolts.





12. Install the special tool.
1 Rotate the differential case to verify that the differential bearings have seated correctly.
2 Position the special tool.
^ Make sure there is no differential case endplay.





13. Measure and note the differential case runout.
^ If the runout does not exceed the specification, install a new differential ring gear and pinion.
^ If the runout exceeds the specification, the differential ring gear is true and the concern is due to differential case/differential bearing damage. Install a new differential case.





14. Using the special tools, remove the differential bearings.

Installation





All vehicles
1. Using the special tool, install the new differential bearings.





2. Position the differential ring gear and the differential case. Align the bolt holes by starting two bolts through the holes in the differential case and the differential ring gear. Press the differential ring gear on the differential case.





3. Install the bolts.
^ Apply stud and bearing mount to the bolt threads.





4. With the pinion depth set and pinion installed, place the differential assembly in the differential housing.





5. Install a differential bearing shim on the left side.





6. CAUTION: Always install the differential bearing caps in their identified locations and positions.

NOTE: Apply pressure toward the left side to make sure the left differential bearing cup seats correctly.

Install the left differential bearing cap and loosely install the bolts.





7. Install progressively larger differential bearing shims on the right side until the largest shim selected can be installed by hand.





8. Install the right side differential bearing cap and tighten the left side and right side bolts to specification.





9. Rotate the differential case to make sure it turns freely.

Part 1 Of 2:

Part 2 Of 2:

Measuring backlash
10. Using the special tools, measure and note the differential ring gear backlash.
^ If backlash is within the specification, refer to Backlash within specification.
^ If a zero backlash condition occurs, refer to Zero backlash.
^ If backlash is not within the specification, refer to Backlash not within specification.





Zero backlash
11. If a zero backlash condition occurs, add 0.51 mm (0.020 inch) to the RH side and subtract 0.51 mm (0.020 inch) from the LH side to allow backlash indication. Measure the backlash.





Backlash not within specification
12. To increase or decrease backlash, remove the differential bearing caps and install a thicker shim and a thinner shim accordingly.
^ If backlash is not within the specification, increase the thickness of one differential bearing shim and decrease the thickness of the other differential bearing shim by the same amount.





13. Rotate the differential assembly several times to verify that the differential bearings seated correctly.





14. Using the special tools, recheck the backlash.
^ If backlash is within the specification, refer to Backlash within specification in this procedure. If backlash is not within the specification, repeat Backlash not within specification in this procedure.
Backlash within specification
15. Remove the bolts and the differential bearing caps.





16. To establish differential bearing preload, increase both left and right differential bearing shim sizes by the specification shown.





17. Using the special tool, fully seat the differential bearing shims. Make sure the assembly rotates freely.





18. Install the differential bearing caps and bolts.





19. Using the special tools, recheck the backlash.
20. Install the axle shafts.