Part 2 of 2
Measuring Pinion Flange RunoutTools Required
- J 8001 Dial Indicator Set
- J 23409 Dial Indicator Extension
- J 35819 Flange Runout Gauge
Important: When you replace a propeller shaft, inspect the new shaft for runout. Inspect the pinion flange runout if the replacement shaft runout is also out of tolerance.
1. Place the vehicle on a suitable hoist. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
2. Allow the wheels to rotate freely.
3. Remove the propeller shaft from the pinion flange.
4. Install the J 35819.
Important: The dial indicator will have inverted readings. You are measuring the inside diameter of the flange; you are not measuring the outside diameter. The highest reading on the dial indicator is the low spot. The lowest reading is the high spot.
Rotate the pinion shaft 360 ° and zero the dial indicator on the low spot.
5. Rotate the pinion flange again and record the total runout.
6. If the pinion flange runout is 0.15 mm (0.006 in) or less, remove the pinion flange balance weight.
7. If the pinion flange runout is greater than 0.15 mm (0.006 in) but not less than 0.28 mm (0.011 in), and the runout compensation weight is at or near the low spot, no further action is necessary. If the runout compensation weight is not at or near the low spot, remove the weight.
8. If the pinion flange runout is greater than 0.28 mm (0.011 in) but not greater than 0.38 mm (0.015 in), and the balance weight is at or near the low point, no further action is necessary. If the runout compensation weight is not at or near the low spot, remove the weight and re-index the pinion flange until the runout is 0.25 mm (0.010 in) or less.
9. Replace the pinion shaft when the runout is 0.25 mm (0.010 in) or less. Then, recheck the runout. Service replacement flanges do not have balance weights.
Helpful Hints
- If a J 35819 is not available, measure the pinion runout as close as possible to the pinion flange
- If necessary, add compensation weights on the face of the pinion flange dust slinger. These weights are tack-welded onto the slinger. You may remove the weights with a die-grinder.
- Carefully remove the spot weld at either end of the weight.
- Do not remove the weight unless you have inspected the pinion flange runout and the procedure calls for weight removal.
- Do not remove any weights on the outboard edge of the dust slinger. These weights are present in order to balance internal axle components. The weights are not related to the pinion flange runout.
- If a J 35819 is not available, inspect the propeller shaft runout as near as possible to the flange. Rotate the shaft 180 ° in the pinion flange. Reinstall the shaft. Inspect the measurement at the same location.
A large difference in the runout, greater than 0.38 mm (0.015 in),may indicate that the flange is out of tolerance. If the runout does not change at all, the flange is OK.
Balanced Axles
Beginning in the early 1990s, the manufacturer began system balancing rear axles. During the build process, these axle assemblies were spun with a slave fixture. A balance weight was attached to the outboard edge of the companion flange dust slinger. A system-balanced rear axle companion flange differs from a non-balanced flange. You must diagnose and service this flange in a unique way.
Some pinion flange assemblies have a U-shaped deflector designed in order to hold a system balance weight on the outside diameter.
Other pinion flange assemblies have a runout compensation weight on the face of the deflector. The pinion flange assemblies that are system balanced do not use runout compensation weights.
Measuring the runout on a system-balanced companion flange is very straight-forward. A balanced flange that is good will have a measured runout between 0.00-0.38 mm (0.00-0.015 in). If a balanced flange has more than 0.38 mm (0.015 in) runout, replace the flange or reindex the flange 180 ° on the pinion. If you replace or reindex a balanced flange, you must system balance the rear axle again.