1999 DODGE RAM Service Repair Manual

267 RBI ................................................ 7.0 (3.3)\
286 RBI
2WD ................................................... 6.8 (3.2)\
4WD .................................................. 10.1 (4.8)\
Ram Van/Wagon
248 RBI ................................................ 6.0 (2.8)\
(1) - Approximate drive axle capacity listed. Lubricant level should
be 1/2" below oil filler hole in axle housing cover.









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FLUID TYPE
Use SAE 80W-90 for 286 models, or 90W for all other models,
hypoid gear lubricant with MIL-L-2105-C and API GL-5 ratings. Models
with Trac-Lok require addition of 6 ozs. (.18 L) Mopar(R) friction
modifier (limited slip additive). Ram Pickups equipped with Power-Lok
require addition of 8 ozs. (.24 L) Mopar(R) friction modifier.
TROUBLE SHOOTING
NOTE: See appropriate table in TROUBLE SHOOTING article in GENERAL
INFORMATION.
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
REAR HUB, BEARINGS & AXLE SHAFT
Removal
Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove bolts, axle
shaft and gasket. Remove nut lock from adjusting nut. See Fig. 1.
Remove adjusting nut and outer wheel bearing. Remove rear hub and
brake drum. Remove oil seal and inner wheel bearing (if necessary).
Installation
1) Pack wheel bearings with wheel bearing grease. Install
inner wheel bearing and oil seal in rear hub (if removed). Install
rear hub and brake drum. Install outer wheel bearing and adjusting
nut. Tighten adjusting nut to specification while rotating rear hub
and brake drum. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
2) Back off adjusting nut approximately 1/8 turn to obtain .
001-.010" (.03-.25 mm) wheel bearing end play. Tap key lock into
adjusting nut and keyway on axle housing.
3) To install remaining components, reverse removal
procedure. Use NEW gasket when installing axle shaft. Tighten bolts to
specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
DRIVE SHAFT
Removal
1) Raise and support vehicle. Ensure transmission and
transfer case selector levers are in Neutral. Remove wheel assembly.
Remove RWAL sensor, if equipped. Reference mark drive shaft to pinion
flange for reassembly.
2) On 2-piece drive shafts, scribe center carrier bearing-to-
frame bracket reference line for reassembly. On all drive shafts,
remove bolts and "U" joint straps at pinion flange. Remove center
carrier bearing bolts, if equipped. Remove spring clamps and brackets.
Remove drive shaft(s).
CAUTION: The "U" joint straps and bolts must be replaced. DO NOT

reuse.
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 to
pinion flange on differential for reassembly. Remove bolts and "U"
joint straps at pinion flange on differential. Disconnect drive shaft
from differential, and support 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 (6719)
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.
Fig. 1: Exploded View Of Rear Axle (Typical)
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.
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.
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.
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) Block brake pedal in upward position, as brake fluid lines
must be disconnected. Raise and support vehicle at body, in front of
rear springs. Remove rear wheels.
2) Reference mark drive shaft to pinion flange for
reassembly. Remove bolts and "U" joint straps at pinion flange. Remove
drive shaft, and support aside.
3) Disconnect and plug brakelines. Disconnect parking brake
cables. Disconnect shock absorbers. On models with Rear Wheel Anti-
Lock (RWAL) brakes, disconnect electrical connector at brake sensor on\
top of axle housing.
4) On all axles, support axle housing assembly with floor
jack. Remove rear spring "U" bolts. Lower axle housing assembly and
remove from vehicle.
Installation
1) To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure rear spring
center bolts align with holes in spring pads on axle housing assembly.
2) Ensure reference marks on drive shaft and pinion flange
align. Tighten bolt/nuts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS.
Bleed and adjust brakes. Check axle fluid level and fill if necessary.
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) On axles with Rear Wheel Anti-Lock (RWAL) brakes, remove
brake sensor from top of axle housing. On all axles, remove axle
shafts from differential. See REAR HUB, BEARINGS & AXLE SHAFT 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 bearing caps. Place Axle Housing Spreader (W-129-B)\
on axle housing so dowel pins engage with locating holes. See Fig. 2.
Install hold-down clamps. Finger tighten turnbuckle on axle housing
spreader.
4) Install Guide Pin (C3288-B) at left side of axle housing.\

Install pilot stud and dial indicator onto axle housing. Position dial
indicator so stem is resting against opposite side of axle housing,
with pressure on stem.
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).
CAUTION: DO NOT spread axle housing more than .020" (.50 mm), or axle
housing may be damaged.
Fig. 2: Installing Axle Housing Spreader
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.
6) Remove dial indicator. Pry differential case from axle
housing. If reusing bearing races for differential bearings, mark
bearing race location for reassembly reference. Bearing races must be
installed with same differential bearing.
7) If removing ring gear, place differential case in soft-jaw
vise. Remove and discard ring gear bolts. Using soft-face hammer, tap
ring gear from differential case.
8) On rear axles with Rear Wheel Anti-Lock (RWAL) brakes, us\
e
soft-face hammer to tap exciter ring from differential case if
removing exciter ring. Replace exciter ring if removed from
differential case.
9) On all axles, remove pinion nut and washer from pinion.
Scribe reference mark on pinion flange and pinion if components are to
be reused. Disconnect drive shaft, and wire aside.
10) Using appropriate holder and flange remover, remove

pinion flange from pinion. Remove oil seal from axle housing.
11) Remove slinger (if equipped), pinion bearing and preload\
shim(s). See Fig. 1. Note thickness of preload shims for reassembly
reference in case shims become misplaced.
12) Remove pinion and bearing from axle housing. Using
appropriate remover, remove front (outer) pinion bearing race from
axle housing. Remove rear (inner) pinion bearing race from axle
housing using remover. Remove pinion bearing depth shims from axle
housing. See Fig. 1. Measure and record shim thickness for reassembly
reference.
13) Remove rear (inner) bearing from pinion, using
appropriate puller. Remove differential bearings from differential
case. Remove preload shims from differential case. See Fig. 1.
Identify preload shim location. Record preload shim thickness for
reassembly reference.
14) Clamp differential case in soft-jaw vise. Remove roll pin
from differential case. Tap pinion shaft from differential case.
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.
3) On axles with Rear Wheel Anti-Lock (RWAL) brakes, if
exciter ring is not removed from differential case, ensure exciter
ring fits tightly on differential case and is fully seated.
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 into 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, 180 degrees apart, to retain roll pin in place. Remove
differential case from vise.
3) On rear axles with Rear Wheel Anti-Lock (RWAL) brakes,
align tab on exciter ring with slot on differential case if installing
exciter ring. Install ring gear on differential case. Install 2 NEW
ring gear bolts to maintain bolt hole alignment. Using press, press
exciter ring onto differential case using ring gear as a pilot.
4) Install ring gear on differential case (if not previously
installed). Install NEW ring gear bolts. Tighten bolts evenly in
alternating pattern to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
Proceed to INITIAL DIFFERENTIAL BEARING PRELOAD.
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.
Initial Differential Bearing Preload
1) Install master bearings on each side of differential case

where differential bearing fits. Use Dummy Bearing (D-343) for 248 and\
267 RBI axles, and (D-346) for 286 RBI 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. 3. Pry between bearing cap and
differential case. Pry differential case to right as far as possible.
Zero dial indicator.
4) Pry differential case to left as far as possible. Note
dial indicator reading. This reading is referred to as 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.
Fig. 3: Measuring Differential Case End Play
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.

Fig. 4: Identifying Pinion Markings & Pinion Depth Measurement
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.
Pinion Depth
1) Ring gear and pinion are a matched set. A gear matching

number is stamped on pinion face. This number must be same as number
on ring gear. A pinion depth variance marking is etched on pinion
face. See Fig. 4.
2) Etched marking, in thousandths of an inch, indicates
deviation from standard pinion depth setting. Standard pinion depth
setting is distance from center line of axle shaft to rear pinion
bearing shoulder area. See Fig. 4. Standard pinion depth setting
varies with axle model. See STANDARD PINION DEPTH SETTING table.
STANDARD PINION DEPTH SETTING









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Application In. (mm)\
248 RBI ............................................. 5.000 (127.00)\
267 RBI ............................................. 5.375 (136.52)\
286 RBI ............................................. 5.812 (147.62)\









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3) If original pinion, ring gear and axle housing are being
used, and pinion depth shims are being replaced, determine thickness
of original pinion depth shims. Replace shims with NEW shims of same
thickness.
4) If only pinion and ring gear are being replaced, and
original axle housing is used, note pinion depth variance marking on
old pinion and replacement pinion.
5) Using etched markings and pinion depth shim adjustment
chart, determine amount to be added or subtracted from thickness of
original pinion depth shims. See Fig. 5. For example, if etched
marking is +4 on original pinion and -4 on replacement pinion,
thickness of pinion depth shims should be increased by .008" (.20 mm).\
NOTE: When determining shim thickness, if result is a negative (-)
reading, subtract this amount from thickness of pinion depth
shim pack to obtain thickness of correct shim. If result is
positive (+), add this amount to thickness of pinion depth
shim pack to obtain thickness of correct shim. If result is
zero, this will be nominal standard pinion depth setting and
no shims are required. When using PINION DEPTH SHIM
ADJUSTMENT CHART, thickness of original pinion depth shim
pack must be accurately determined. If original pinion depth
shim pack dimension cannot be accurately determined, pinion
depth gauge set must be used to properly determine pinion
depth setting. Pinion depth gauge set must also be used if
using replacement axle housing. Proceed to DETERMINING PINION
DEPTH USING PINION DEPTH GAUGE SET procedure.
NOTE: If slinger is used, slinger thickness must also be included
in pinion depth shim pack.
Determining Pinion Depth Using Pinion Depth Gauge Set
1) Use pinion depth gauge set for all axle models. Place
master pinion block into pinion bore of axle housing. See Fig. 6.
Install discs on arbor. Install arbor in axle housing with discs
positioned in differential bearing bores. See Fig. 6.
2) Install pinion height block on top of master pinion block,
against arbor. Place gauge block with dial indicator on lowest step of
pinion height block. Zero dial indicator with gauge block flat on
pinion height block.
3) Move gauge block so dial indicator stem contacts arbor.
Move gauge block back and forth (perpendicular to arbor) to get
highest reading. This reading is thickness of required pinion depth
shim pack.
4) To select correct shim, note etched markings on end of