Dodge Ram Truck 1500-2500-3500. Manual - part 133
1. Apply a thin coat of hydrated ferric oxide or equivalent, to the drive and coast side of the ring gear teeth.
2. Wrap, twist and hold a shop towel around the pinion yoke to increase the turning resistance of the pinion. This
will provide a more distinct contact pattern.
3. Using a boxed end wrench on a ring gear bolt, Rotate the differential case one complete revolution in both direc-
tions while a load is being applied from shop towel.
The areas on the ring gear teeth with the greatest degree of contact against the pinion teeth will squeegee the
compound to the areas with the least amount of contact. Note and compare patterns on the ring gear teeth to Gear
Tooth Contact Patterns chart and adjust pinion depth and gear backlash as necessary.
DIFFERENTIAL BEARING PRELOAD CHECK
The final check on the differential assembly before installing the axles is torque to rotate pinion and differential com-
bined. This will verify the correct differential bearing preload.
Torque to rotate the differential and pinion should be the torque to rotate the pinion plus 0.79-1.24 N·m (7-11 in.
lbs.).
SPECIFICATIONS
AXLE SPECIFICATIONS
DESCRIPTION
SPECIFICATION
Axle Ratio
4.56
Ring Gear Diameter
248 mm (9.75 in.)
Ring Gear Backlash
0.12-0.20 mm (0.005-0.008 in.)
Pinion Bearing Preload - Original Bearings
1-3 N·m (10-20 in. lbs.)
Pinion Bearing Preload - New Bearings
1.7-3.9 N·m (15-35 in. lbs.)
3 - 364
REAR AXLE - 248RBI
DR/DH