2002 DODGE RAM Service Repair Manual

Page 105 of 2255

DODGE RAM 2002  Service Repair Manual Condition Possible Causes Correction
Loss Of Lubricant 1. Lubricant level too high. 1. Drain lubricant to the correct
level.
2. Worn axle shaft seals. 2. Replace seals.
3. Cracked differential housing

Page 106 of 2255

DODGE RAM 2002  Service Repair Manual REMOVAL
(1) Raise and support the vehicle.
(2) Position an axle lift under the axle and secure
it to the axle.
(3) Remove the wheels and tires.
(4) Remove RWAL sensor from the differential
housing, if

Page 107 of 2255

DODGE RAM 2002  Service Repair Manual Note the etched number on the face of the pinion
gear head (±1, ±2, 0, +1, +2, etc.). The numbers rep-
resent thousands of an inch deviation from the stan-
dard. If the number is negative, add that

Page 108 of 2255

DODGE RAM 2002  Service Repair Manual scooter block till dial indicator crests the arbor, then
record the highest reading.
(9) Select a shim equal to the dial indicator read-
ing plus the pinion depth variance number etched in
the face of

Page 109 of 2255

DODGE RAM 2002  Service Repair Manual (5) Install differential case in the housing.
(6) Install the marked bearing caps in their correct
positions and snug the bolts (Fig. 11).
(7) Using a dead-blow hammer, seat the differen-
tial dummy b

Page 110 of 2255

DODGE RAM 2002  Service Repair Manual (13) Rotate dial indicator out of the way on the
pilot stud.
(14) Remove differential case and dummy bearings
from the housing.(15) Install the pinion gear in the housing. Install
the pinion yoke and

Page 111 of 2255

DODGE RAM 2002  Service Repair Manual (20) Push and hold differential case to ring gear
side of the housing and record dial indicator reading
(Fig. 18).
(21) This is the shim thickness needed on the ring
gear side of the differential case

Page 112 of 2255

DODGE RAM 2002  Service Repair Manual GEAR CONTACT PATTERN
The ring and pinion gear contact patterns will
show if the pinion depth is correct. It will also show
if the ring gear backlash has been adjusted correctly.
The backlash can be ad