1998 DODGE RAM 1500 Rear seat

(1) Through the axle tube use Wrench C-4164 to
adjust each threaded adjuster inward until the differ-
ential bearing free-play is eliminated. Allow some
ring gear backlash approximately 0.25 mm (0.01 in.)
between the ring and pinion gear. Seat the bearing
cups with the procedure described above.
(2) Install dial indicator and position the plunger
against the drive side of a ring gear tooth (Fig. 9).
Measure the backlash at 4 positions, 90 degrees
apart around the ring gear. Locate and mark the
area of minimum backlash.
(3) Rotate the ring gear to the position of the least
backlash. Mark the gear so that all future backlash
measurements will be taken with the same gear
teeth meshed.
(4) Loosen the right-side, tighten the left-side
threaded adjuster. Obtain backlash of 0.076 to 0.102
mm (0.003-0.004 in.) with each adjuster tightened to
14 N´m (10 ft. lbs.). Seat the bearing cups with the
procedure described above.
(5) Tighten the differential bearing cap bolts 136
N´m (100 ft. lbs.).
(6) Tighten the right-side threaded adjuster to 102
N´m (75 ft. lbs.). Seat the bearing cups with the pro-
cedure described above. Continue to tighten the
right-side adjuster and seat bearing cups until the
torque remains constant at 102 N´m (75 ft. lbs.)
(7) Measure the ring gear backlash. The range of
backlash is 0.15 to 0.203 mm (0.006 to 0.008 in.).(8) Continue increasing the torque at the right-
side threaded adjuster until the specified backlash is
obtained.
NOTE: The left-side threaded adjuster torque
should have approximately 102 N´m (75 ft. lbs.). If
the torque is considerably less, the complete
adjustment procedure must be repeated.
(9) Tighten the left-side threaded adjuster until
102 N´m (75 ft. lbs.) torque is indicated. Seat the
bearing rollers with the procedure described above.
Do this until the torque remains constant.
(10) Install the threaded adjuster locks and
tighten the lock screws to 10 N´m (90 in. lbs.).
GEAR CONTACT PATTERN
Gear tooth contact pattern is used to verify the cor-
rect running position of the ring and pinion gears.
This will produce low noise and long gear life. Gears
which are not positioned properly may be noisy and
have shorten gear life.
(1) Wipe clean each tooth of the ring gear.
(2) Apply gear marking compound to all of the ring
gear teeth.
(3) Verify bearing cap bolts are torque specifica-
tion.
(4) Apply parking brakes lightly to create at 14
N´m (10 ft. lbs.) pinion rotating torque.
(5) Rotate the pinion/pinion yoke 4 full revolutions
in each directions.
(6) Read gear tooth contact pattern:
²Gear contact pattern is correct (Fig. 10). Back-
lash and pinion depth is correct.
Fig. 9 RING GEAR BACKLASH
1 - DIAL INDICATOR
2 - RING GEAR
3 - EXCITER RING
Fig. 10 CORRECT CONTACT PATTERN
DRREAR AXLE - 9 1/4 3 - 87
REAR AXLE - 9 1/4 (Continued)

(7) Push axle shaft inward and remove axle shaft
C-lock from the axle shaft (Fig. 21).
(8) Remove axle shaft (Fig. 22) carefully to prevent
damage to the shaft bearing and seal in the axle
tube.
INSTALLATION
(1) Lubricate bearing bore and seal lip with gear
lubricant.
(2) Insall axle shaft and engage into side gear
splines.
NOTE: Use care to prevent shaft splines from dam-
aging axle shaft seal.(3) Insert C-lock in end of axle shaft then push
axle shaft outward to seat C-lock in side gear.
(4) Insert pinion shaft into differential case and
through thrust washers and differential pinions.
(5) Align hole in shaft with hole in the differential
case and install lock screw with Loctiteton the
threads. Tighten lock screw to 11 N´m (8 ft. lbs.).
(6) Install differential cover and fill with gear
lubricant to the bottom of the fill plug hole.
(7) Install brake rotor, caliper adapter and caliper.
(8) Install wheel and tire.
(9) Remove support and lower vehicle.
AXLE SHAFT SEALS
REMOVAL
(1) Remove axle shaft.
(2) Remove axle shaft seal (Fig. 23) from the axle
tube with a small pry bar.
INSTALLATION
(1) Wipe the axle tube bore clean. Remove any old
sealer or burrs from the tube.
(2) Coat the lip of thenewseal with axle lubricant
and install a seal with Installer C-4076-B and Han-
dle C-4735-1.
NOTE: When tool contacts the axle tube, the seal is
installed to the correct depth.
Fig. 21 AXLE SHAFT C-LOCK
1 - C-LOCK
2 - AXLE SHAFT
3 - SIDE GEAR
Fig. 22 AXLE SHAFT
1 - AXLE SHAFT
2 - SUPPORT PLATE
3 - CALIPER
4 - PARK BRAKE SHOE ASSEMBLY
Fig. 23 AXLE SHAFT SEAL
1 - AXLE SEAL
2 - AXLE BEARING
3 - 94 REAR AXLE-91/4DR
AXLE SHAFTS (Continued)

(8) Remove pinion seal with pry tool or slide-ham-
mer mounted screw.
INSTALLATION
(1) Apply a light coating of gear lubricant on the
lip of pinion seal.
(2) Installnewpinion seal with Installer C-3860-A
and Handle C-4171 (Fig. 26)
(3) Install companion flange on the end of the
shaft with the reference marks aligned.
(4) Install two bolts into the threaded holes in the
companion flange, 180É apart.
(5) Position Holder 6719 against the companion
flange and install a bolt and washer into one of the
remaining threaded holes. Tighten the bolts so holder
is held to the flange.
(6) Install companion flange on pinion shaft with
Installer C-3718 and Holder 6719.
(7) Install pinion washer and anewpinion nut.
The convex side of the washer must face outward.
CAUTION: Never exceed the minimum tightening
torque 285 N´m (210 ft. lbs.) when installing the
companion flange retaining nut at this point. Dam-
age to collapsible spacer or bearings may result.
(8) Hold companion flange with Holder 6719 and
tighten the pinion nut with a torque set to 285 N´m
(210 ft. lbs.) (Fig. 27). Rotate pinion several revolu-
tions to ensure the bearing rollers are seated.
(9) Rotate pinion with an inch pound torque
wrench. Rotating torque should be equal to the read-
ing recorded during removal plus an additional 0.56
N´m (5 in. lbs.) (Fig. 28).CAUTION: Never loosen pinion nut to decrease pin-
ion bearing rotating torque and never exceed spec-
ified preload torque. If rotating torque is exceeded,
a new collapsible spacer must be installed.
Fig. 26 PINION SEAL INSTALLER
1 - HANDLE
2 - INSTALLER
3 - HOUSING
Fig. 27 TIGHTENING PINION NUT
1 - DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING
2 - COMPANION FLANGE HOLDER
3 - TORQUE WRENCH
Fig. 28 PINION ROTATION TORQUE
1 - COMPANION FLANGE
2 - TORQUE WRENCH
3 - 96 REAR AXLE-91/4DR
PINION SEAL (Continued)

ASSEMBLY
NOTE: If same gears and thrust washers are being
used, install them into their original locations.
(1) Lubricate all differential components with axle
lubricant.
(2) Install differential side gears (2) and thrust
washers (Fig. 35).(3) Install first pinion gear (3) with thrust washer
into differential window (1) and side gears (2). Rotate
pinion gear into the case (Fig. 36).
(4) Install remaining pinion gear and thrust
washer. Rotate gears to align hole in the pinion gears
with hole in the differential case.
(5) Slide pinion shaft (4) into the case and through
the pinion gears (3) to align the gears (Fig. 37).
INSTALLATION
(1) Apply a coating of hypoid gear lubricant to the
differential bearings, bearing cups, and threaded
adjusters. A dab of grease can be used to keep the
adjusters in position.
(2) Install differential assembly into the housing.
(3) Install differential bearing caps in their origi-
nal locations (Fig. 38).
(4) Install bearing cap bolts and tighten the upper
bolts to 14 N´m (10 ft. lbs.). Tighten the lower bolts
finger-tight until the bolt head is seated.
(5) Perform the differential bearing preload and
adjustment procedure.
NOTE: Be sure that all bearing cap bolts are tight-
ened to their final torque of 136 N´m (100 ft.lbs.)
before proceeding.
(6) Install axle shafts.
(7) Apply a bead of orange Mopar Axle RTV Seal-
ant or equivalent to the housing cover (Fig. 39).
Fig. 35 SIDE GEAR
1 - DIFFERENTIAL WINDOW
2 - SIDE GEAR
Fig. 36 PINION GEAR
1 - DIFFERENTIAL WINDOW
2 - SIDE GEARS
3 - PINION GEAR
Fig. 37 PINION SHAFT
1 - PINION SHAFT SNAP-RING
2 - SIDE GEAR
3 - PINION GEAR
4 - PINION SHAFT
DRREAR AXLE - 9 1/4 3 - 99
DIFFERENTIAL (Continued)

(2) Assemble clutch discs into packs and secure
disc packs with retaining clips (Fig. 49).
NOTE: New Plates and discs with fiber coating (no
grooves or lines) must be presoaked in Friction
Modifier before assembly. Soak plates and discs for
a minimum of 20 minutes.
(3) Position differential case on the Holding Fix-
ture 8136.
(4) Position assembled clutch disc packs on the
side gear hubs.
(5) Install clutch pack and side gear in the differ-
ential case (Fig. 50).
CAUTION: Verify clutch pack retaining clips are in
position and seated in case pockets.(6) Install lubricated disc from Trac-LoktTool Kit
8139 in lower side gear.
(7) Install upper side gear and clutch disc pack
(Fig. 51).
CAUTION: Verify clutch pack retaining clips are in
position and seated in case pockets.
(8) Hold assembly in position and install threaded
disc from tool kit into top side gear.
(9) Install forcing screw from Trac-LoktTool Kit
C-4487 and tighten screw to slightly compress clutch
disc.
Fig. 49 CLUTCH DISC PACK
1 - CLUTCH PACK
2 - RETAINER
3 - SIDE GEAR
4 - RETAINER
Fig. 50 CLUTCH PACK AND SIDE GEAR
1 - DIFFERENTIAL CASE
2 - LOWER SIDE GEAR AND CLUTCH PACK
3 - 104 REAR AXLE-91/4DR
DIFFERENTIAL-TRAC-LOK (Continued)

(18) Remove rear pinion bearing (Fig. 60) from the
pinion shaft with Puller C-293-PA and Adapters
C-293-37.
(19) Remove pinion depth shim (Fig. 61) from the
pinion shaft and record shim thickness.
INSTALLATION
NOTE: The ring gear and pinion are serviced in a
matched set. Do not replace one gear without
replacing the other matching gear. If ring and pinion
gears or bearings are replaced, Refer to Adjust-
ments for Pinion Gear Depth Setting.
(1) Apply Mopar Door Ease or equivalent stick
lubricant to outside surface of the pinion bearing
cups.
(2) Install rear pinion bearing cup (Fig. 62) with
Installer C-4308 and Driver Handle C-4171 and ver-
ify cup is seated.
Fig. 60 REAR PINION BEARING
1 - PULLER
2 - VISE
3 - ADAPTERS
4 - PINION SHAFT
Fig. 61 PINION DEPTH SHIM
1 - PINION DEPTH SHIM
2 - PINION GEAR
Fig. 62 REAR PINION BEARING CUP
1 - INSTALLER
2 - HANDLE
3 - 108 REAR AXLE-91/4DR
PINION GEAR/RING GEAR/TONE RING (Continued)

(3) Install front pinion bearing cup (Fig. 63) with
Installer D-129 and Handle C-4171 and verify cup is
seated.
(4) Lubricate and install front pinion bearing into
the housing.
(5) Apply a light coating of gear lubricant on the
lip of pinion seal. Install seal with Installer C-4076-B
and Handle C-4735-1 (Fig. 64).
(6) Install pinion depth shim (Fig. 65) on the pin-
ion gear shaft.
(7) Install rear bearing on the pinion (Fig. 66) with
Installer C-3095-A and a press.
Fig. 63 FRONT PINION BEARING CUP
1 - INSTALLER
2 - HANDLE
Fig. 64 PINION SEAL INSTALLER
1 - HANDLE
2 - INSTALLER
3 - HOUSING
Fig. 65 PINION DEPTH SHIM
1 - PINION DEPTH SHIM
2 - PINION GEAR
Fig. 66 REAR PINION BEARING
1 - PRESS
2 - INSTALLER
3 - PINION GEAR
4 - REAR PINION BEARING
DRREAR AXLE - 9 1/4 3 - 109
PINION GEAR/RING GEAR/TONE RING (Continued)

(6) Install ring gear side adjuster lock and bolt. Do
not tighten adjuster lock bolt at this time.
(7) Tighten pinion gear side adjuster firmly
against the differential case bearing cup.
(8) Rotate the pinion several times to seat the def-
erential bearings.
(9) Loosen pinion gear side adjuster until it is no
longer in contact with the bearing cup, then tighten
it until it makes contact.
(10) Tighten pinion gear side adjuster an addi-
tional:
²New Bearings:6 Adjuster Holes
²Original Bearings:4 Adjuster Holes
(11) Install pinion gear side adjuster lock and bolt.
Do not tighten adjuster lock bolt at this time.
(12) Tighten bearing cap bolts to 115 N´m (85 ft.
lbs.).
(13) Tighten adjuster lock bolts to 33 N´m (24 ft.
lbs.).
(14) Measure ring gear backlash with a Dial Indi-
cator C-3339 and Dial Indicator Stud L-4438 at eight
points around the drive side of the ring gear (Fig. 9).
The backlash should be 0.08-0.25 mm (0.003-0.010
in) with a preferred backlash of 0.13-0.18 mm (0.005-
0.007 in).
NOTE: Backlash measurement should not vary
more than 0.05 mm (0.002 in) between measuring
points. If measurement does vary inspect the gears
for burrs, the differential case flange and ring gear
mounting.GEAR TOOTH CONTACT PATTERN
Gear tooth contact pattern is used to verify the cor-
rect running position of the ring and pinion gears.
This will produce low noise and long gear life. Gears
which are not positioned properly may be noisy and
have shorten gear life.
(1) Wipe clean each tooth of the ring gear.
(2) Apply gear marking compound to all of the ring
gear teeth.
(3) Verify bearing cap bolts are torque specifica-
tion.
(4) Apply parking brakes lightly to create at 14
N´m (10 ft. lbs.) pinion rotating torque.
(5) Rotate the pinion/pinion yoke 4 full revolutions
in each directions.
(6) Read gear tooth contact pattern:
²Gear contact pattern correct (Fig. 10). Backlash
and pinion depth is correct.
²Ring gear too far away from pinion gear (Fig.
11). Decrease the backlash, by moving the ring closer
to the pinion gear using the adjusters.
²Ring gear too close to pinion gear (Fig. 12).
Increase the backlash, by moving the ring away from
the pinion gear using the adjusters.
Fig. 9 RING GEAR BACKLASH
1 - DIAL INDICATOR
2 - RING GEAR
Fig. 10 CORRECT CONTACT PATTERN
Fig. 11 INCORRECT BACKLASH
1 - COAST SIDE TOE
2 - DRIVE SIDE HEEL
3 - 118 REAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AADR
REAR AXLE - 10 1/2 AA (Continued)