2002 DODGE RAM torque

REAR
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page page
REAR
DESCRIPTION.........................25
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - SPRING AND
SHOCK.............................25
SPECIFICATIONS
TORQUE CHART......................26
SPECIAL TOOLS
SUSPENSION-REAR...................27
BUSHINGS
REMOVAL.............................27INSTALLATION.........................27
SHOCK
REMOVAL.............................27
INSTALLATION.........................27
SPRING
REMOVAL.............................27
INSTALLATION.........................28
STABILIZER BAR
REMOVAL.............................29
INSTALLATION.........................29
REAR
DESCRIPTION
The rear suspension is comprised of:
²Shock Absorbers
²Jounce Bumpers
²Stabilizer Bar (optional)
²Leaf Springs
²Drive Axle
CAUTION: A vehicle should always be loaded so
the vehicle weight center-line is located immedi-
ately forward of the rear axle. Correct vehicle load-
ing provides proper front tire-to-road contact. This
results in maximum vehicle handling stability and
safety. Incorrect vehicle weight distribution can
cause excessive tire tread wear, spring fatigue or
failure, and erratic steering.
CAUTION: Suspension components with rubber/ure-
thane bushings (except stabilizer bar) should be
tightened with the vehicle at normal ride height. It is
important to have the springs supporting the weight
of the vehicle when the fasteners are torqued. If
springs are not at their normal ride position, vehicle
ride comfort could be affected and premature bush-
ing wear may occur.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - SPRING AND
SHOCK
A knocking or rattling noise from a shock absorber
may be caused by movement between mounting
bushings and metal brackets or attaching compo-
nents. These noises can usually be stopped by tight-
ening the attaching nuts. If the noise persists,
inspect for damaged and worn bushings, and attach-
ing components. Repair as necessary if any of these
conditions exist.
A squeaking noise from the shock absorber may be
caused by the hydraulic valving and may be intermit-
tent. This condition is not repairable and the shock
absorber must be replaced.
The shock absorbers are not refillable or adjust-
able. If a malfunction occurs, the shock absorber
must be replaced. To test a shock absorber, hold it in
an upright position and force the piston in and out of
the cylinder four or five times. The action throughout
each stroke should be smooth and even.
The spring eye and shock absorber bushings do not
require any type of lubrication. Do not attempt to
stop spring bushing noise by lubricating them.
Grease and mineral oil-base lubricants will deterio-
rate the bushing rubber.
If the vehicle is used for severe, off-road operation,
the springs should be examined periodically. Check
for broken and shifted leafs, loose and missing clips,
and broken center bolts. Refer to Spring and Shock
Absorber Diagnosis chart for additional information.
BR/BEREAR 2 - 25

SPRING AND SHOCK ABSORBER
CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSES CORRECTION
SPRING SAGS 1. Broken leaf. 1. Replace spring.
2. Spring fatigue. 2. Replace spring.
SPRING NOISE 1. Loose spring clamp bolts. 1. Tighten to specification.
2. Worn bushings. 2. Replace bushings.
3. Worn or missing spring tip inserts. 3. Replace spring tip inserts.
SHOCK NOISE 1. Loose mounting fastener. 1. Tighten to specification.
2. Worn bushings. 2. Replace shock.
3. Leaking shock. 3. Replace shock.
SPECIFICATIONS
TORQUE CHART
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
DESCRIPTION N´m Ft. Lbs. In. Lbs.
Shock Absorber
Lower Nut136 100 Ð
Shock Absorber
Upper Nut136 100 Ð
Spring Clamp Nuts
6,010-10,500 GVW149 110 Ð
Spring Clamp Nuts
11,000 GVW Cab-Chassis163 120 Ð
Spring Front and Rear
Eye and Shackle
Bolt/Nut 6,010-6,400 GVW163 120 Ð
Spring Front and Rear
Eye and Shackle
Bolt/Nut 8,800-11,000
GVW176 130 Ð
Stabilizer Bar
Retainer Nuts54 40 Ð
Stabilizer Bar
Link Ball Stud Nut68 50 Ð
Stabilizer Bar
Link Upper Nut68 50 Ð
Stabilizer Bar
Frame Bracket Nuts54 40 Ð
Jounce Bumper
Bolts61 45 Ð
2 - 26 REARBR/BE
REAR (Continued)

INSTALLATION
(1) Install shackle on rear spring eye and install
bolt and nut.(2) Position spring on axle shaft tube so spring
center bolt is inserted into the locating hole in the
axle tube spring pad or spacer.
(3) Align spring front eye with bolt hole in the
front bracket. Install the eye pivot bolt and nut.
(4) Align shackle eye with bolt hole in rear
bracket. Install bolt and nut.
(5) Tighten the spring front and rear eye pivot bolt
snug do not torque.
(6) Install spring clamp bolts and the retaining
nuts.
(7) Align the auxiliary spring with the primary
spring if equipped. Tighten the nuts until they force
the plate flush against the axle tube.
(8) Remove the supports and lower the vehicle so
that the weight is being supported by the tires.
(9) Tighten the spring clamp retaining nuts to
specifications
(10) Tighten spring front and rear eye pivot bolt
nuts and shackle eye to specifications.
Fig. 2 Rear Spring - 4x2
1 - SPRING CLAMP BOLTS
2 - SPRING SEAT
3 - SPRING
4 - SHACKLE
5 - SPRING PLATE
Fig. 3 Rear Spring - 4x4
1 - SPRING CLAMP BOLT
2 - SPRING SEAT
3 - SPRING
4 - SHACKLE
5 - SPRING PLATE
6 - SPACER
Fig. 4 Rear Spring - Cab-Chassis 11000 GVW
1 - SPRING CLAMP BOLT
2 - SPRING SEAT
3 - AUXILIARY SPRING
4 - SPRING
5 - SHACKLE
6 - SPRING PLATE
7 - SPACER
2 - 28 REARBR/BE
SPRING (Continued)

DRIVELINE VIBRATION
Drive Condition Possible Cause Correction
Propeller Shaft Noise 1) Undercoating or other foreign
material on shaft.1) Clean exterior of shaft and wash
with solvent.
2) Loose U-joint clamp screws. 2) Install new clamps and screws
and tighten to proper torque.
3) Loose or bent U-joint yoke or
excessive runout.3) Install new yoke.
4) Incorrect driveline angularity. 4) Measure and correct driveline
angles.
5) Rear spring center bolt not in
seat.5) Loosen spring u-bolts and seat
center bolt.
6) Worn U-joint bearings. 6) Install new U-joint.
7) Propeller shaft damaged or out
of balance.7) Installl new propeller shaft.
8) Broken rear spring. 8) Install new rear spring.
9) Excessive runout or unbalanced
condition.9) Re-index propeller shaft, test,
and evaluate.
10) Excessive drive pinion gear
shaft runout.10) Re-index propeller shaft and
evaluate.
11) Excessive axle yoke deflection. 11) Inspect and replace yoke if
necessary.
12) Excessive transfer case runout. 12) Inspect and repair as necessary.
Universal Joint Noise 1) Loose U-joint clamp screws. 1) Install new clamps and screws
and tighten to proper torque.
2) Lack of lubrication. 2) Replace as U-joints as
necessary.
BALANCE
NOTE: Removing and re-indexing the propeller
shaft 180É relative to the yoke may eliminate some
vibrations.
If propeller shaft is suspected of being unbalanced,
it can be verified with the following procedure:
(1) Raise the vehicle.
(2) Clean all the foreign material from the propel-
ler shaft and the universal joints.
(3) Inspect the propeller shaft for missing balance
weights, broken welds and bent areas.If the propel-
ler shaft is bent, it must be replaced.
(4) Inspect the universal joints to ensure that they
are not worn, properly installed and correctly aligned
with the shaft.
(5) Check the universal joint clamp screws torque.
(6) Remove the wheels and tires. Install the wheel
lug nuts to retain the brake drums or rotors.
(7) Mark and number the shaft six inches from the
yoke end at four positions 90É apart.(8) Run and accelerate the vehicle until vibration
occurs. Note the intensity and speed the vibration
occurred. Stop the engine.
(9) Install a screw clamp at position 1 (Fig. 1).
(10) Start the engine and re-check for vibration. If
there is little or no change in vibration, move the
clamp to one of the other three positions. Repeat the
vibration test.
(11) If there is no difference in vibration at the
other positions, the source of the vibration may not
be propeller shaft.
(12) If the vibration decreased, install a second
clamp (Fig. 2) and repeat the test.
(13) If the additional clamp causes an additional
vibration, separate the clamps (1/2 inch above and
below the mark). Repeat the vibration test (Fig. 3).
(14) Increase distance between the clamp screws
and repeat the test until the amount of vibration is
at the lowest level. Bend the slack end of the clamps
so the screws will not loosen.
3 - 2 PROPELLER SHAFTBR/BE
PROPELLER SHAFT (Continued)

SPECIFICATIONS
PROPELLER SHAFT
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
DESCRIPTION N´m Ft. Lbs. In. Lbs.
Center Bearing Bolts 68 50 -
Front Shaft Flange Yoke 88 65 -
Front Shaft Axle Yoke 19 14 -
Rear Shaft Axle Yoke 29 22 -
SPECIAL TOOLS
PROPELLER SHAFT
PROPELLER SHAFT - FRONT
REMOVAL
(1) Shift the transmission and transfer case to
their neutral positions.(2) Raise and support vehicle and remove skid
plate, if equipped.
(3) Mark a line across the companion flange at the
transfer case and propeller shaft flange yoke for
installation reference.
(4) Mark a line across the propeller shaft yoke and
the pinion shaft yoke for installation reference.
(5) Remove the universal joint strap bolts at the
pinion shaft yoke (Fig. 9).
(6) Remove the bolts holding the propeller shaft to
the transfer case companion flange.
(7) Remove the propeller shaft.
Inclinometer - 7663
Bearing Splitter - 1130
Installer, Bearing - 6052Fig. 9 Front Propeller Shaft
1 - TRANSFER CASE
2 - FRONT AXLE
3 - AXLE YOKE
4 - SLIP YOKE BOOT
5 - STRAP
6 - FLANGE YOKE/COMPANION FLANGE
3 - 6 PROPELLER SHAFTBR/BE
PROPELLER SHAFT (Continued)

CENTER BEARING
REMOVAL
(1) Remove rear propeller shaft.
(2) Remove slip joint boot clamp and separate the
two half-shafts.
(3) Use hammer and punch to tap slinger away
from shaft to provide room for bearing splitter.
(4) Position Bearing Splitter Tool 1130 between
slinger and shaft.
CAUTION: Do not damage shaft spline during
removal of center bearing.
(5)
Set shaft in press and press bearing off the shaft.
INSTALLATION
NOTE: Two types of center bearings are used and
are not interchangeable. Install the same type as
the vehicle was built with.
(1) Install new slinger on shaft and drive into posi-
tion with appropriate installer tool.
(2) Install new center bearing on shaft with Bear-
ing Installer Tool 6052. Drive on shaft with hammer
until bearing is seated.
(3) Clean shaft splines and apply a coat of multi-
purpose grease.
(4) Align master splines and slide front and rear
half-shafts together. Reposition slip yoke boot and
install new clamp.
(5) Install propeller shaft in vehicle.
ADJUSTMENTS
ADJUSTMENT - CENTER BEARING
Launch shudder is a vibration that occurs at first
acceleration from a stop. Shudder vibration usually
peaks at the engines highest torque output. Shudder is
a symptom associated with vehicles using a two-piece
propeller shaft. To decrease shudder, lower the center
bearing in 1/8 inch increments. Use shim stock or fab-
ricated plates. Plate stock must be used to maintain
compression of the rubber insulator around the bearing.
Do not use washers. Replace the original bolts with the
appropriate increased length bolts.
SINGLE CARDAN UNIVERSAL
JOINTS
DISASSEMBLY
Individual components of cardan universal joints
are not serviceable. If worn or leaking, they must be
replaced as an assembly.
(1) Remove the propeller shaft.
(2) With a soft drift, tap the outside of the bearing
cap assembly to loosen snap ring.
(3) Remove snap rings from both sides of yoke
(Fig. 12).
(4) Set the yoke in an arbor press or vise with a
socket whose inside diameter is large enough to
receive the bearing cap positioned beneath the yoke.
(5) Position the yoke with the grease fitting, if
equipped, pointing up.
(6) Place a socket with an outside diameter
smaller than the upper bearing cap on the upper
bearing cap and press the cap through the yoke to
release the lower bearing cap (Fig. 13).
Fig. 12 Remove Snap Ring
1 - SNAP RING
3 - 8 PROPELLER SHAFTBR/BE

During straight-ahead driving, the differential pin-
ion gears do not rotate on the pinion mate shaft. This
occurs because input torque applied to the gears is
divided and distributed equally between the two side
gears. As a result, the pinion gears revolve with the
pinion mate shaft but do not rotate around it (Fig. 1).
When turning corners, the outside wheel must
travel a greater distance than the inside wheel to
complete a turn. The difference must be compensated
for to prevent the tires from scuffing and skidding
through turns. To accomplish this, the differential
allows the axle shafts to turn at unequal speeds (Fig.
2). In this instance, the input torque applied to the
pinion gears is not divided equally. The pinion gears
now rotate around the pinion mate shaft in opposite
directions. This allows the side gear and axle shaft
attached to the outside wheel to rotate at a faster
speed.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - AXLE
GEAR NOISE
Axle gear noise can be caused by insufficient lubri-
cant, incorrect backlash, tooth contact, worn/damaged
gears or the carrier housing not having the proper
offset and squareness.
Gear noise usually happens at a specific speed
range. The noise can also occur during a specific type
of driving condition. These conditions are accelera-
tion, deceleration, coast, or constant load.
When road testing, first warm-up the axle fluid by
driving the vehicle at least 5 miles and then acceler-
ate the vehicle to the speed range where the noise is
the greatest. Shift out-of-gear and coast through thepeak-noise range. If the noise stops or changes
greatly:
²Check for insufficient lubricant.
²Incorrect ring gear backlash.
²Gear damage.
Differential side gears and pinions can be checked
by turning the vehicle. They usually do not cause
noise during straight-ahead driving when the gears
are unloaded. The side gears are loaded during vehi-
cle turns. A worn pinion mate shaft can also cause a
snapping or a knocking noise.
BEARING NOISE
The axle shaft, differential and pinion bearings can
all produce noise when worn or damaged. Bearing
noise can be either a whining, or a growling sound.
Pinion bearings have a constant-pitch noise. This
noise changes only with vehicle speed. Pinion bearing
noise will be higher pitched because it rotates at a
faster rate. Drive the vehicle and load the differen-
tial. If bearing noise occurs, the rear pinion bearing
is the source of the noise. If the bearing noise is
heard during a coast, the front pinion bearing is the
source.
Worn or damaged differential bearings usually pro-
duce a low pitch noise. Differential bearing noise is
similar to pinion bearing noise. The pitch of differen-
tial bearing noise is also constant and varies only
with vehicle speed.
Axle shaft bearings produce noise and vibration
when worn or damaged. The noise generally changes
when the bearings are loaded. Road test the vehicle.
Turn the vehicle sharply to the left and to the right.
This will load the bearings and change the noise
level. Where axle bearing damage is slight, the noise
is usually not noticeable at speeds above 30 mph.
Fig. 1 DIFFERENTIAL-STRAIGHT AHEAD DRIVING
1 - IN STRAIGHT AHEAD DRIVING EACH WHEEL ROTATES AT
100% OF CASE SPEED
2 - PINION GEAR
3 - SIDE GEAR
4 - PINION GEARS ROTATE WITH CASE
Fig. 2 DIFFERENTIAL-ON TURNS
1 - PINION GEARS ROTATE ON PINION SHAFT
BR/BEFRONT AXLE - 248FBI 3 - 15
FRONT AXLE - 248FBI (Continued)

Condition Possible Causes Correction
Gear Teeth Broke 1. Overloading. 1. Replace gears. Examine other
gears and bearings for possible
damage.
2. Erratic clutch operation. 2. Replace gears and examine the
remaining parts for damage. Avoid
erratic clutch operation.
3. Ice-spotted pavement. 3. Replace gears and examine
remaining parts for damage.
4. Improper adjustments. 4. Replace gears and examine
remaining parts for damage. Ensure
ring gear backlash is correct.
Axle Noise 1. Insufficient lubricant. 1. Fill differential with the correct
fluid type and quantity.
2. Improper ring gear and pinion
adjustment.2. Check ring gear and pinion
contact pattern.
3. Unmatched ring gear and pinion. 3. Replace gears with a matched
ring gear and pinion.
4. Worn teeth on ring gear and/or
pinion.4. Replace ring gear and pinion.
5. Loose pinion bearings. 5. Adjust pinion bearing pre-load.
6. Loose differential bearings. 6. Adjust differential bearing
pre-load.
7. Mis-aligned or sprung ring gear. 7. Measure ring gear run-out.
Replace components as necessary.
8. Loose differential bearing cap
bolts.8. Inspect differential components
and replace as necessary. Ensure
that the bearing caps are torqued
tot he proper specification.
9. Housing not machined properly. 9. Replace housing.
REMOVAL
(1) Raise and support the vehicle.
(2) Remove wheels and tires.
(3) Remove brake calipers and rotors. Refer to 5
Brakes for procedures.
(4) Remove ABS wheel speed sensors, if equipped.
Refer to 5 Brakes for procedures.
(5) Disconnect axle vent hose.
(6) Disconnect vacuum hose and electrical connec-
tor at disconnect housing.
(7) Remove front propeller shaft.
(8) Disconnect stabilizer bar links at the axle
brackets.
(9) Disconnect shock absorbers from axle brackets.
(10) Disconnect track bar from the axle bracket.
(11) Disconnect tie rod and drag link from the
steering knuckles.
(12) Position suitable lifting device under the axle
assembly.(13) Secure axle to lifting device.
(14) Mark suspension alignment cams for installa-
tion reference.
(15) Disconnect upper and lower suspension arms
from the axle bracket.
(16) Lower the axle. The coil springs will drop
with the axle.
(17) Remove the coil springs from the axle bracket.
INSTALLATION
CAUTION: Suspension components with rubber
bushings should be tightened with the weight of the
vehicle on the suspension, at normal height. If
springs are not at their normal ride position, vehicle
ride comfort could be affected and premature bush-
ing wear may occur. Rubber bushings must never
be lubricated.
(1) Support the axle on a suitable lifting device.
3 - 18 FRONT AXLE - 248FBIBR/BE
FRONT AXLE - 248FBI (Continued)