Side Bearing Preload

NOTE: For quiet and reliable final drive operation, the following five adjustments must be made correctly:
- Side bearing preload
- Pinion gear height
- Pinion bearing preload
- Ring gear-to-pinion backlash. Refer to Assembly.
- Ring and pinion gear tooth contact pattern.

A selection of carrier side retainer adjusting shims is required for successful completion of this procedure.
1. Make sure all parts are clean. Also make sure the bearings are well lubricated with light oil or type DEXRON automatic transmission fluid.
2. Install differential carrier and side bearing assembly into the final drive housing.





3. Place all of the original side retainer adjusting shims onto the side bearing retainer that goes at the ring gear end of the carrier.





4. Install both bearing retainers onto the final drive housing and torque the retainer bolts.
Bolt torque specification: 9 - 12 Nm (78 - 104 inch lbs.)





5. Turn the carrier several times to seat the bearings.
6. Measure the carrier turning torque with a spring gauge, J8129, at the ring gear retainer bolt.
Turning torque specification: 34.3 - 39.2 N (7.7 - 8.8 lbs.) of pulling force at the ring gear bolt
7. If the turning torque measured is incorrect, establish the correct bearing preload by adding to or subtracting from the total amount of shim thickness.
- Increase shim thickness to decrease turning torque on the carrier.
- Decrease shim thickness to increase turning torque on the carrier.





8. Record the correct, selected total thickness of the side retainer adjusting shims, and remove the carrier and bearings from the final drive housing. Save all shims for later re-use.