Pinion Depth Adjustment

Correct pinion depth must be established to ensure proper ring gear and pinion tooth contact. Pinion depth is adjusted by varying thickness of shims installed either between rear pinion bearing and gear, or between rear pinion bearing race and housing. If original ring gear and pinion, rear pinion bearing and housing are to be reused, original shims removed during disassembly can be used to adjust pinion depth. However, if gear set, rear pinion bearing assembly or housing are replaced, proper pinion depth must be adjusted using following procedures.

7 1/4 INCH RING GEAR

Fig. 14 Pinion Depth Gauge Assembly:

Pinion setting gauge assembly and adapter set, or suitable equivalents, must be used to select pinion depth adjusting shim and install pinion bearing races. Depth adjusting shims are installed between rear pinion bearing race and gear.

1. Start both pinion bearing races in respective housing bores, ensuring races are not cocked, then lubricate pinion bearings and races.
2. Assemble spacer SP-3244 on shaft SP-5385 followed by rear bearing cone, then insert assembly into housing from case side.
3. Hold assembly in case, then install shaft locating sleeve SP-3245, front bearing cone, compression sleeve SP-3194-B, washer SP-534 and nut SP-5385.

Fig. 15 Typical Pinion Bearing Race Installation:

4. Using tool No. C-3281, or equivalent, hold compression sleeve, then tighten nut to draw bearing races into housing, rotating shaft to prevent damage to bearings.
5. When bearing races are fully seated, loosen nut, then retighten in small increments to obtain 15-25 inch lbs. preload, checking preload with suitable torque wrench after each adjustment. Ensure bearing rollers are lubricated to ensure accurate reading.
6. Rotate tool to ensure bearings are properly seated, recheck preload and adjust as needed.
7. Mount gauge block SP-3250 onto shaft SP-5385 and securely tighten screw SP-5536.
8. Mount arbor SP-3243 in housing side bearing bores, ensuring arbor is centered.
9. Install side bearing caps in proper position, insert .002 inch shim stock between each bearing cap and arbor, and torque bearing cap bolts to 10 ft. lbs.

Fig. 16 Pinion Depth Adjusting Shim Selection:

10. Insert progressively thicker shims between arbor and gauge block, until fit of shim is snug but not excessively tight, then record thickness of shim.
11. Inspect head of pinion for pinion depth modification code and select shim as follows: To ensure proper tooth contact, pinion may be marked with a plus (+) or minus (-) code number, indicating in thousandths of an inch necessary modifications to "nominal" depth setting. It is essential that this modification code be factored when selecting pinion depth adjusting shim.
a. If pinion is marked with a minus (-) code, add that number of thousandths to dimension obtained in step 10, and select shim thickness equal to sum.
b. If pinion is marked with a plus (+) code, subtract that number of thousandths from dimension obtained in step 10 and select shim thickness equal to remainder.
12. Remove gauge tool and adapter assemblies from housing and pinion bearings from shaft.
13. Retain selected shim for pinion installation.

8 1/4 INCH RING GEAR

Fig. 17 Pinion Depth Gauge Assembly:

Pinion setting gauge assembly and adapter set, or suitable equivalents must be used to select pinion depth adjusting shim and install pinion bearing races. Depth adjusting shims are installed between rear pinion bearing race and gear.

1. Start both pinion bearing races in respective housing bores, ensuring races are not cocked, then lubricate pinion bearings and races.
2. Assemble spacer SP-6030 on shaft SP-5385 followed by rear bearing cone, then insert assembly into housing from case side.
3. Hold assembly in case, then install shaft locating sleeve SP-5382, front bearing cone, washer SP-6022, compression sleeve SP-3194-B, washer SP-534 and nut SP-5385 or SP-3193, or equivalents.
4. Hold compression sleeve with suitable tool, then tighten nut to draw bearing races into housing, rotating shaft to prevent damage to bearings.
5. When bearing races are fully seated, loosen nut, then retighten in small increments to obtain 15-25 inch lbs. preload, checking preload with suitable torque wrench after each adjustment. Ensure bearing rollers are lubricated to ensure accurate reading.
6. Rotate tool to ensure bearings are properly seated, recheck preload and adjust as needed.
7. Mount gauge block SP-5383 onto shaft SP-5385 and wrench SP-531, then securely tighten screw SP-5
8. Mount arbor SP-6029 in housing side bearing bores, ensuring arbor is centered.
9. Install side bearing caps in proper position, insert .002 inch shim stock between each bearing cap and arbor, and torque bearing cap bolts to 10 ft. lbs.
10. Insert progressively thicker shims between arbor and gauge block, until fit of shim is snug but not excessively tight, then record thickness of shim.
11. Inspect head of pinion for pinion depth modification code and select shim as follows: To ensure proper tooth contact, pinion may be marked with a plus (+) or minus (-) code number, indicating in thousandths of an inch necessary modifications to "nominal" depth setting. It is essential that this modification code be factored when selecting pinion depth adjusting shim.
b. If pinion is marked with a minus (-) code, add that number of thousandths to dimension obtained in step 10, and select shim thickness equal to sum.
a. If pinion is marked with a plus (+) code, subtract that number of thousandths from dimension obtained in step 10 and select shim thickness equal to remainder.
12. Remove gauge tool and adapter assemblies from housing and pinion bearings from shaft.
13. Retain selected shim for pinion installation.

8 3/8 INCH RING GEAR

Fig. 18 Pinion Depth Gauge Assembly:

Pinion setting gauge assembly tool No. C-3715-B and adapter set tool No. C-4339, or equivalents, must be used to select pinion depth adjusting shim and install pinion bearing races. Depth adjusting shims are installed between rear pinion bearing and gear.

1. Start both pinion bearing races in respective housing bores, ensuring races are not cocked, then lubricate pinion bearings and races.
2. Assemble spacer SP-6030 on shaft SP-5385 followed by rear pinion bearing, then insert assembly into housing from case side.
3. Hold assembly in case, mount front bearing on spacer SP-5382 and install spacer and bearing assembly, then washer SP-0.022, sleeve SP-3194-B, centering washer SP-534 and nut SP-3193 onto shaft.
4. Hold compression sleeve with suitable tool, then tighten nut to draw bearing races into housing, rotating shaft to prevent damage to bearings.
5. When bearing races are fully seated, loosen nut, then retighten in small increments to obtain 10-25 inch lbs. preload, checking preload with suitable torque wrench after each adjustment. Ensure bearing rollers are lubricated to ensure accurate reading.
6. Rotate tool to ensure bearings are properly seated, recheck preload and adjust as needed.
7. Mount gauge block SP-5383 onto head of shaft and securely tighten Allen screw.
8. Mount arbor SP-6029 in housing side bearing bores, ensuring arbor is centered.
9. Install side bearing caps in proper position, insert .002 inch shim stock between each bearing cap and arbor, and torque bearing cap bolts to 10 ft. lbs.
10. Insert progressively thicker shims between arbor and gauge block, until fit of shim is snug but not excessively tight, then record thickness of shim.
11. Inspect head of pinion for pinion depth modification code and select shim as follows: To ensure proper tooth contact, pinion may be marked with a plus (+) or minus (-) code number, indicating in thousandths of an inch necessary modifications to "nominal" depth setting. It is essential that this modification code be factored when selecting pinion depth adjusting shim.
a. If pinion is marked with a minus (-) code, add that number of thousandths to dimension obtained in step 10, and select shim thickness equal to sum.
b. If pinion is marked with a plus (+) code, subtract that number of thousandths from dimension obtained in step 10 and select shim thickness equal to remainder.
12. Remove gauge tool and adapter assemblies from housing and pinion bearings from shaft.
13. Retain selected shim for pinion installation.

9 1/4 INCH RING GEAR

Fig. 19 Pinion Depth Gauge Assembly:

Pinion setting gauge assembly shown or suitable equivalent, may be used to install pinion bearing races and to select proper shim thickness for pinion depth adjustment. Pinion depth shims are installed between rear pinion bearing and gear.

1. Start both pinion bearing races into housing, ensuring races are not cocked, then lubricate pinion bearings and races.
2. Assemble spacer SP-6017 and rear pinion bearing on shaft SP-526, then insert shaft assembly into housing from case side.
3. Install front pinion bearing, washer SP-6022, compression sleeve SP-535-A, centering washer SP-534 and nut SP-533 on shaft.
4. Hold compression sleeve with suitable tool, then tighten nut to draw bearing races into housing, rotating tool to prevent damage to bearings.
5. When bearing races are seated, loosen nut on tool until endplay is evident, then lubricate bearings.
6. Hold compression sleeve, torque nut in small increments to obtain bearing preload of 15-25 inch lbs., checking preload with suitable torque wrench after each adjustment.
7. Rotate tool to ensure bearings are seated, recheck preload and adjust as needed.
8. Mount gauge block SP-6020 onto head of shaft SP-526, install screw SP-536 and securely tighten screw.
9. Install arbor SP-6018 in housing side bearing bores and center arbor.
10. Install side bearing caps in respective position, insert .002 inch shim stock between each cap and arbor, then torque cap bolts to 10 ft. lbs.
11. Insert progressively thicker shims between arbor and gauge block, until fit of shim is snug but not excessively tight, then record shim thickness.
12. Inspect head of pinion for pinion depth modification code and select depth adjusting shim as follows. To ensure proper tooth contact, pinion may be marked with a plus (+) or minus (-) code number, indicating in thousandths of an inch necessary modifications to "nominal" depth setting. It is essential that this modification code be factored when selecting pinion depth adjusting shim.
a. If pinion is marked with a minus (-) code, add that number of thousandths to dimension obtained in step 11 and select shim thickness equal to sum.
b. If pinion is marked with a plus (+) code, subtract that number of thousandths from dimension obtained in step 11 and select shim thickness equal to remainder.
13. Remove gauging tool assembly from housing and bearings from tool.