1999 DODGE RAM torque

Installation
To install, reverse removal procedure using NEW "U" joint
straps and bolts. Ensure all reference marks are aligned. Tighten
bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
PINION FLANGE & OIL SEAL
Removal
1) Raise and support vehicle. Reference mark drive shaft and
pinion flange on differential for reassembly. Remove bolts and "U"
joint straps at pinion flange on differential. Disconnect drive shaft
from differential, and support it aside.
2) Using INCH-lb. torque wrench, measure amount of force
required to rotate pinion. This is pinion bearing preload. Record
pinion bearing preload for reassembly reference.
3) Remove pinion nut and washer from pinion. Scribe reference
mark on pinion flange and pinion for reassembly. Using Holder (C-3281)\
and appropriate flange remover, remove pinion flange from pinion.
Remove oil seal from axle housing.
Installation
1) Ensure oil seal surface in axle housing is clean. Coat lip
of oil seal with gear lube. Using appropriate oil seal installer and
handle, install oil seal.
2) Install pinion flange on pinion with reference mark
aligned. Press pinion flange onto pinion. Install washer and pinion
nut. Tighten pinion nut while rotating pinion, ensuring bearings are
properly seated. Tighten nut until preload measured before disassembly
is achieved. DO NOT exceed maximum torque specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS table.
3) To install remaining components, reverse removal procedure
using NEW "U" joint straps and bolts. Ensure all reference marks are
aligned. Tighten bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
table. Check lubricant level and add if necessary.
AXLE HOUSING ASSEMBLY
NOTE: Removing axle housing assembly is not necessary unless axle
housing is damaged. Differential carrier and components can
be serviced by removing differential assembly from axle
housing.
Removal
1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove front wheels. Reference
mark drive shaft to pinion flange for reassembly. Remove bolts and "U"
joint straps at pinion flange. Remove drive shaft, and support aside.
Remove brake calipers, and support aside with wire. DO NOT allow
calipers to hang from brake hoses.
2) Disconnect ABS sensor harness connectors (if equipped).
Disconnect drag link and tie rod from steering knuckles. Disconnect
shock absorber from axle housing. Disconnect stabilizer bar links at
spring brackets.
3) Disconnect electrical connector and vacuum hoses at vacuum
shift motor. Support axle housing assembly with floor jack. Remove
bolts from upper and lower suspension arms. Lower axle housing
assembly from vehicle and remove.
Installation
To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure reference marks
on drive shaft and pinion flange align. Tighten suspension arms with
vehicle at normal operating height. Tighten bolt/nuts to
specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table. Check axle fluid level

and fill if necessary.
STEERING KNUCKLES
Removal & Installation
1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove hub bearing and axle
shaft. Remove tie rod or drag link end from steering knuckle arm.
Remove ABS sensor harness and bracket from steering knuckle.
2) Remove cotter pin from upper ball stud nut. Remove upper
and lower ball stud nuts. Using a brass hammer, strike steering
knuckle to remove knuckle from axle tube yokes.
3) To install, reverse removal procedure. On 216 FBI axles,
tighten lower and upper ball stud nuts to specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS table.
4) On 248 FBI axles, tighten lower ball stud nut to
specification. DO NOT install cotter pin at this time. Install and
tighten upper ball stud nut to specification. Retorque lower ball stud
nut to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
AXLE SHIFT MOTOR
Removal & Installation
1) Disconnect vacuum and wiring connector from shift housing.
Remove indicator switch, shift motor housing cover, gasket and shield
from housing.
2) To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure shift fork
is correctly guided into shift collar groove. Tighten mounting bolts
to 96 INCH lbs. (11 N.m). Add 5 ounces (148 ml) of GL-5 gear lubrica\
nt
to shift motor housing through indicator switch mounting hole.
DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY
NOTE: Differential assembly consists of differential case and
components mounted in axle housing. For differential assembly
servicing, see DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY under OVERHAUL.
OVERHAUL
DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY
Disassembly
1) Remove axle shafts from differential. See AXLE SHAFT & HUB
BEARING under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
2) Note identification marks on bearing caps and axle housing
for reassembly reference. Bearing caps must be installed in original
location. If marks are not present, place marks on bearing caps and
axle housing.
3) Remove bolts and bearing caps. Place Axle Housing Spreader
(W-129-B) on axle housing so dowel pins engage with locating holes.
See Fig. 1 . Install hold-down clamps. Finger tighten turnbuckle on
axle housing spreader.
4) Install pilot stud and dial indicator on axle housing.
Position dial indicator so stem is resting against opposite side of
axle housing, with pressure on stem.
CAUTION: DO NOT spread axle housing more than .020" (.50 mm), or axle
housing may be damaged.
5) Adjust dial indicator to zero. Tighten turnbuckle enough
to spread axle housing for differential case removal while noting
reading on dial indicator. Dial indicator reading should not exceed .
020" (.50 mm).

Remove pinion gears, pinion gear thrust washers, side gears and side
gear thrust washers from differential case.
Cleaning & Inspection
1) Clean components with solvent, and dry with compressed
air. Inspect components for wear. Inspect bearings and bearing races
for wear and pitting. Replace bearings and bearing races as a set.
Inspect ring gear and pinion teeth for wear and chipping. Replace ring
gear and pinion gear as matched set.
2) Check differential case for cracks or scoring of side
gears, thrust washers and pinion thrust faces. Check fit of side gears
to differential case and axle shaft splines. Examine shaft of pinion
shaft for scoring or excessive wear.
NOTE: Lubricate all bearings, bearing races, gears and thrust
washers with gear lube during reassembly.
Reassembly & Adjustments
1) Place differential case in soft-jaw vise. Install side
gears, side gear thrust washers, pinion gears and pinion gear thrust
washers in differential case.
2) Rotate side gears until holes in pinion gears and thrust
washers align with holes in differential case. Install pinion shaft.
Install roll pin in differential case. Stake edge of differential case
in 2 areas to retain roll pin in place. Remove differential case from
vise.
NOTE: Initial differential bearing preload must be performed to
determine thickness of preload shims in order to obtain zero
end play of differential case. Procedure must be performed
before installing pinion in axle housing.
3) Install ring gear on differential case. Use NEW ring gear
bolts. DO NOT reuse bolts. Tighten bolts evenly in alternating pattern
to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table. Proceed to INITIAL
DIFFERENTIAL BEARING PRELOAD.
Initial Differential Bearing Preload
1) Install dummy bearings on each side of differential case
where differential bearing fits. Use Dummy Bearing (D-345) for 216 FBI\
axle or (D-343) for 248 FBI axle.
2) Install differential case in axle housing. Install bearing
caps on axle housing. Ensure bearing caps are installed in original
location. Install bearing cap bolts.
3) Mount dial indicator on axle housing with stem against
back of ring gear. See Fig. 2. Pry between bearing cap and
differential case. Pry differential case to right as far as possible.
Zero dial indicator.
4) Pry differential case to the left as far as possible. Note
dial indicator reading. This reading is referred to as the
"differential case zero end play". Record differential case zero end
play reading.
5) Differential case zero end play measurement indicates
thickness of preload shims required to eliminate clearance between
differential bearings and bearing races.
6) Total thickness of preload shims will be determined during
ring gear backlash adjustment. Remove dial indicator, bearing caps and
differential case from axle housing. Proceed to PINION DEPTH
procedure.

(inner) pinion bearing onto pinion until bearing is fully seated.
Install preload shims on pinion. Install pinion in axle housing.
Install front (outer) pinion bearing and slinger (if equipped).
Install pinion flange on pinion.
2) Using holder and Pinion Flange Installer (C-3716), press
pinion flange onto pinion. Install washer and used pinion nut. Tighten
pinion nut to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
3) Using INCH-lb. torque wrench, check torque required to
rotate pinion. This is pinion bearing preload. Ensure pinion bearing
preload is within specification. See AXLE ASSEMBLY SPECIFICATIONS.
4) If pinion bearing preload is not within specification,
adjust thickness of preload shims. Decrease shim thickness to increase
pinion bearing preload. Increase shim thickness to decrease pinion
bearing preload.
5) Remove nut and washer from pinion. Using holder and Pinion
Flange Remover (C-452), remove pinion flange from pinion. Ensure oil
seal surface in axle housing is clean.
6) Coat lip of oil seal with gear lube. Using appropriate oil
seal installer and handle, install oil seal.
7) Reinstall pinion flange, washer and NEW pinion nut. DO NOT
reuse pinion nut. Tighten pinion nut to specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS table. Recheck pinion preload. Proceed to RING GEAR
BACKLASH.
NOTE: Before performing ring gear backlash, note differential case
zero end play obtained during initial differential bearing
preload. See INITIAL DIFFERENTIAL BEARING PRELOAD.
Ring Gear Backlash
1) Install dummy bearings on each side of differential case
where differential bearings fit. Use Dummy Bearing (D-345) for 216 FBI\
axle, or (D-343) for 248 FBI axle.
2) Install differential case in axle housing. Install bearing
caps on axle housing. Ensure bearing caps are installed in original
location. Install bearing cap bolts.
3) Mount dial indicator on axle housing with stem against
back of ring gear. Ensure pressure exists on stem of dial indicator.
Ensure ring gear and pinion are tightly meshed.
4) Pry between bearing cap and differential case. Pry
differential case as far to right as possible. Zero dial indicator.
5) Pry differential case to the left as far as possible, and
note reading on dial indicator. Repeat procedure several times to
ensure proper reading.
6) Measurement obtained determines preload shim thickness
required to eliminate ring gear backlash. Subtract reading obtained in
step 5) from differential case zero end play obtained during initial
differential bearing preload.
7) This is thickness of preload shims that must be installed
on ring gear side of differential case. These preload shims will be
referred to as the "ring gear backlash preload shims".
8) Remaining preload shims required to equal the differential
case zero end play will be referred as zero end play preload shims.
9) Remove dial indicator, bearing caps and differential case
from axle housing. Remove master bearings from differential case.
Install ring gear backlash preload shims on ring gear side of
differential case.
10) Install differential bearing on ring gear side of
differential case using appropriate bearing installer.
11) Install zero end play preload shims plus an additional .
015" (.38 mm) thick preload shim on differential case (opposite ring
gear side). Using bearing installer, install differential bearing on
differential case.
12) Install bearing races on differential bearings. If

reusing original differential bearings and bearing races, ensure
bearing races are installed in original locations.
13) Place axle housing spreader on axle housing so dowel pins
engage with locating holes. See Fig. 1. Use Axle Housing Spreader (W-
129-B). Install hold-down clamps. Tighten turnbuckle on axle housing
spreader finger tight.
14) Install pilot stud and dial indicator on axle housing.
See Fig. 1 . Position dial indicator so stem is resting against
opposite side of axle housing, with pressure on stem.
CAUTION: DO NOT spread axle housing more than .020" (.50 mm), or axle
housing may be damaged.
15) Adjust dial indicator to zero. Tighten turnbuckle enough
to spread axle housing for differential case removal while noting
reading on dial indicator. Dial indicator reading should not exceed .
020" (.50 mm).
16) Remove dial indicator. Install differential case and
bearing races in axle housing. Ensure differential bearings and races
are fully seated. Remove axle housing spreader.
17) Install bearing caps in original location. Install
bearing cap bolts, and tighten to specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS table. Rotate differential case several times to seat
differential bearings.
18) Using dial indicator, check ring gear backlash. See
Fig. 6 . Ensure ring gear backlash is as specified. See AXLE ASSEMBLY
SPECIFICATIONS.
19) If ring gear backlash exceeds specification, move ring
gear toward pinion. If ring gear backlash is less than specification,
move ring gear away from pinion. To change ring gear backlash, move
preload shims from one side of differential case to other.
20) Check ring gear backlash every 90 degrees to check for
variation. Ring gear backlash variation should not exceed .002" (.05
mm). For example, if ring gear backlash is .005" (.15 mm) at minimum
point, ring gear backlash should not exceed .008" (.20 mm) anywhere on\
ring gear.
Final Inspection & Assembly
1) With ring gear backlash properly adjusted, check gear
tooth pattern contact. See GEAR TOOTH CONTACT PATTERNS article in
GENERAL INFORMATION.
2) When differential is complete and correctly adjusted,
install axle housing cover using NEW gasket (if equipped). If gasket
is not available, apply a 1/4" thick bead of silicone sealant on
inside of bolt holes and along sealing surfaces on axle housing cover.
3) Install axle housing cover, axle identification tag and
retaining bolts. Tighten bolts to specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS table. Fill differential with gear lube. See
LUBRICATION.
Fig. 6: Checking Ring Gear Backlash
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.

AXLE ASSEMBLY SPECIFICATIONS
AXLE ASSEMBLY SPECIFICATIONS








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Application Specification
Ring Gear Backlash ......................... .005-.008" (.13-.20 mm)\
Ring Gear Backlash Variation .................... ( 1) .002" (.05 mm)
Pinion Bearing Preload
New Bearings ........................... 15-35 INCH Lbs. (2-5 N.m)\
Used Bearings .......................... 10-20 INCH Lbs. (1-2 N.m)\
( 1) - Maximum variation from ring gear backlash measured at
minimum point on ring gear. If ring gear backlash is
.005" (.15 mm) at minimum point, ring gear backlash should
not exceed .007" (.18 mm) anywhere on ring gear.









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TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS








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Applications Ft. Lbs. (N.m)\
ABS Sensor Bolt ................................................ ( 1)
Axle Nut ................................................. 175 (237)\
Ball Joint Stud Nut
216 FBI
Lower .................................................. 80 (109)\
Upper .................................................. 75 (102)\
248 FBI
Lower
1st Time .............................................. 35 (48)\
2nd Time .................................... 140-160 (190-217)\
Upper ................................................... 70 (95)\
Bearing Cap Bolt .......................................... 80 (109)\
Differential Cover Bolt .................................... 30 (41)\
Pinion Nut
216 FBI ........................................ 160-200 (217-271)\
248 FBI ........................................ 215-280 (292-380)\
Ring Gear Bolt
216 FBI ........................................... 70-90 (95-122)\
248 FBI ........................................ 120-140 (163-190)\
Shift Motor Mounting Bolt ...................................... ( 1)
Wheel Bearing Nut ........................................ 125 (170)\
( 1) - Tighten nuts to 96 INCH lbs. (11 N.m).









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DRIV E A XLE S - P O W ER -L O K

1999 D odge P ic ku p R 1500
1998-99 DRIVE AXLES
CHRY - Power-Lok
Ram Pickup
IDENTIFICATION
POWER-LOK DIFFERENTIAL APPLICATION








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Application Axle Ring Axle
Model Gear Size Ratio
Ram Pickup ........ Rear Axle ... 10.5" (266.7 mm) ..... 267 RBI\









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NOTE: For rear axles with limited-slip differentials, see TRAC-LOK
article.
DESCRIPTION & OPERATION
A Rear Beam-Design Iron (RBI) axle is an iron casting axle
and differential housing with axle shaft tubes extending from either
side. Tubes are pressed to form a one-piece full-floating axle
housing.
Power-Lok differential assembly is optional equipment. The
differential assembly is a limited-slip type differential. It is
similar in operation to a conventional type differential, except for 2
clutch packs located at the side gears in the differential case. See
Fig. 1 . Clutch packs provide differential action when required for
turning corners, and transmit equal torque to both wheels when driving
straight ahead.
AXLE RATIO & IDENTIFICATION
Axle ratio can be identified by axle identification tag
attached to axle housing cover. See AXLE RATIO SPECIFICATIONS table.
AXLE RATIO SPECIFICATIONS









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Application Ratio
Ram Pickup ......................................... 3.54:1 & 4.10:1









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WARNING: Whenever rotating wheels, DO NOT use engine to rotate
individual wheels unless both rear wheels are off ground and
vehicle is securely supported.
LUBRICATION
CAPACITY
DRIVE AXLE CAPACITY ( 1)








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Application Pts. (L)\
Ram Pickup ........................................... ( 2) 7.0 (3.3)

(1) - Approximate drive axle capacity listed. Lubricant level should
be within 1/2" below bottom of oil filler hole in axle housing
cover.
( 2) - Add container of Mopar Gear Oil Friction Modifier when
refilling.









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FLUID TYPE
Use SAE 80W-90 or SAE 90W hypoid gear lubricant with MIL-L-
2105-B and API GL-5 ratings. Also add a container of Mopar Gear Oil
Friction Modifier when refilling.
FLUID DRAIN & REFILL
1) With lubricant of rear axle assembly at normal operating
temperature, raise and support vehicle so rear wheels are free to
rotate. Clean around axle housing cover. Loosen axle housing cover
bolts. Drain lubricant from axle housing. Remove bolts and axle
housing cover.
2) Position differential so hole in differential case faces
down. Wipe all accessible areas of axle housing. Ensure sealing
surfaces on axle housing and cover are clean. Apply a 1/4" thick bead
of silicone sealant on inside of bolt holes and along sealing surfaces
on axle housing cover.
3) Install axle housing cover, axle identification tag and
retaining bolts. Tighten bolts to 30 ft. lbs. (41 N.m). Remove oil
filler plug. Add a container of Mopar Gear Oil Friction Modifier. Fill
axle with gear lube. Install oil filler plug. Lower vehicle.
TROUBLE SHOOTING
DIFFERENTIAL NOISE
1) Ensure differential lubricant is at normal operating
temperature. Road test vehicle. Note if differential noise exists in
turns, but not during straight-ahead driving. Probable cause is
incorrect or insufficient rear axle lubricant or additive.
2) Drain and refill rear axle. See FLUID DRAIN & REFILL under
LUBRICATION. Road test vehicle and note if noise still exists, it may
be necessary to disassemble rear axle so differential can be repaired.
See RBI FULL-FLOATING AXLES article for removal of differential case.
TESTING
NOTE: Power-Lok differential can be tested without removing
differential carrier from axle housing. Either test can be
used to check drive axle.
TEST I
1) Place blocks under both front wheels. Ensure engine is off
and transmission is in Neutral. Release parking brake. Raise one rear
wheel until it is completely clear of the floor. Remove wheel. Install
Adapter (6790) to wheel studs, and tighten securely.
2) Using torque wrench on adapter, rotate axle, and record
torque required. Repeat procedure for remaining rear wheel position.
If rotational torque for either rear wheel is less than 30 ft. lbs.
(41 N.m) or greater than 200 ft. lbs. (271 N.m), Power-Lok unit must\
be replaced or repaired.