Differential Carrier: Adjustments

1. Remove adjusting nut locks and loosen differential bearing cap bolts, then torque cap bolts to approximately 20 ft. lbs. Left adjusting nut is on ring gear side of carrier and right adjusting nut is on pinion side.
2. Loosen right nut until it is away from cup and tighten left nut until ring gear is just forced into position with zero backlash, then rotate pinion several revolutions to ensure that no binding is evident.
3. Check right nut to ensure that it is still loose, then install dial indicator.
4. Tighten right nut until it just contacts bearing cup, then set dial indicator to zero and apply pressure to bearings by tightening right nut until indicator reads .008---.012 inch.
5. Turn pinion gear several times in each direction to seat bearings in cups and ensure that no binding is evident, then torque bearing caps to 70---80 ft. lbs.
6. Measure backlash on several teeth around ring gear.
7. If backlash varies by more than .004 inch between any two teeth, loosen one adjusting nut and tighten opposite nut an equal amount to move ring gear away from or toward pinion. Tightening left nut moves ring gear into pinion to decrease backlash while tightening right nut moves ring gear away. When moving adjusting nuts, final movement should always be made in a tightening direction. Assuming left nut had to be loosened one notch, loosen nut two notches, then tighten one notch.
8. Ensure that case spread remains within specifications as previously described.
9. Perform teeth pattern check as described under ``General Axle Service.'' If backlash is correct and gross pattern error results, recheck pinion shim selection.