2002 DODGE RAM bolt pattern

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 adjusted within specifications to
achieve desired tooth contact patterns.
(1) Apply a thin coat of hydrated ferric oxide or
equivalent to the drive and coast side of the ring gear
teeth.
(2) Wrap, twist and hold a shop towel around the
pinion yoke to increase the turning resistance of the
pinion. This will provide a more distinct contact pat-
tern.(3) With a boxed end wrench on the ring gear bolt,
rotate the differential case one complete revolution in
both directions while a load is being applied from
shop towel.
The areas on the ring gear teeth with the greatest
degree of contact against the pinion teeth will squee-
gee the compound to the areas with the least amount
of contact. Note and compare patterns on the ring
gear teeth to Gear Tooth Contact Patterns chart (Fig.
21)and adjust pinion depth and gear backlash as nec-
essary.
BR/BEREAR AXLE - 267RBI 3 - 89
REAR AXLE - 267RBI (Continued)

down clamps and tighten the tool turnbuckle finger-
tight.
(2) Install a Pilot Stud C-3288-B at the left side of
the differential housing and attach dial indicator to
the pilot stud. Load the indicator plunger against the
opposite side of the housing and zero the dial indica-
tor.
(3) Spread the housing enough to install the case
in the housing. Measure the distance with the dial
indicator.
CAUTION: Do not spread over 0.50 mm (0.020 in). If
the housing is over-spread, it could be distorted or
damaged.
(4) Remove the dial indicator.
(5) Install differential into the housing. Tap the
differential case with a rawhide/rubber hammer to
ensure the bearings are seated in housing (Fig. 33).
(6) Remove the spreader.
(7) Install bearing caps in their original locations
(Fig. 34) and tighten bearing cap bolts in a criss-
cross pattern to 109 N´m (80 ft. lbs.).
(8) Install axle shafts.
(9) Install the hub bearings.
(10) Apply a bead of red Mopar Silicone Rubber
Sealant or equivalent to the housing cover (Fig. 35).CAUTION: If housing cover is not installed within 3
to 5 minutes, the cover must be cleaned and new
RTV applied or adhesion quality will be compro-
mised.
(11) Install the cover and any identification tag.
Tighten the cover bolts in a criss-cross pattern to 47
N´m (35 ft. lbs.).
(12) Fill the differential with Mopar Hypoid Gear
Lubricant or equivalent to bottom of the fill plug
hole.
Fig. 32 Pinion Mate Shaft Roll-Pin
1 - PUNCH
2 - PINION MATE SHAFT
3 - MATE SHAFT LOCKPIN
Fig. 33 DIFFERENTIAL CASE
1 - RAWHIDE HAMMER
Fig. 34 BEARING CAP IDENTIFICATION
1 - REFERENCE LETTERS
2 - REFERENCE LETTERS
3 - 98 REAR AXLE - 267RBIBR/BE
DIFFERENTIAL (Continued)

(13) Invert the differential case.
(14) Position exciter ring on differential case.
(15) Using a brass drift, slowly and evenly tap the
exciter ring into position.
(16) Invert differential case and start two ring
gear bolts. This will provide case-to-ring gear bolt
hole alignment.
(17) Invert the differential case in the vise.
(18) Installnewring gear bolts and alternately
tighten to 176 N´m (130 ft. lbs.) (Fig. 58).
CAUTION: Never reuse the ring gear bolts. The
bolts can fracture causing extensive damage.
(19) Install differential in housing and verify gear
mesh and contact pattern.
(20) Install differential cover and fill with gear
lubricant.
Fig. 56 PINION YOKE INSTALLER
1 - INSTALLER
2 - HOLDER
Fig. 57 PINION ROTATING TORQUE
1 -TORQUE WRENCH
2 - PINION YOKE
Fig. 58 RING GEAR BOLT
1 - TORQUE WRENCH
2 - RING GEAR BOLT
3 - RING GEAR
4 - CASE
3 - 106 REAR AXLE - 267RBIBR/BE
PINION GEAR/RING GEAR/TONE RING (Continued)

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. 3. Repair as necessary.
4. Worn pinion seal. 4. Replace seal.
5. Worn/scored yoke. 5. Replace yoke and seal.
6. Axle cover not properly sealed. 6. Remove, clean, and re-seal
cover.
Axle Overheating 1. Lubricant level low. 1. Fill differential to correct level.
2. Improper grade of lubricant. 2. Fill differential with the correct
fluid type and quantity.
3. Bearing pre-loads too high. 3. Re-adjust bearing pre-loads.
4. Insufficient ring gear backlash. 4. Re-adjust ring gear backlash.
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. Adjust backlash or
pinion depth.
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.
BR/BEREAR AXLE - 286RBI 3 - 111
REAR AXLE - 286RBI (Continued)

REMOVAL
(1) Raise and support the vehicle.
(2) Position a suitable lifting device under the
axle.
(3) Secure axle to device.
(4) Remove the wheels and tires.
(5) Remove the RWAL sensor from the differential
housing, if necessary.
(6) Disconnect the brake hose at the axle junction
block.
(7) Disconnect the parking brake cables and cable
brackets.
(8)
Disconnect the vent hose from the axle shaft tube.
(9) Mark the propeller shaft and companion flange
for installation alignment reference.
(10) Remove propeller shaft.
(11) Disconnect shock absorbers from axle.
(12)
Remove the spring clamps and spring brackets.
(13) Separate the axle from the vehicle.
INSTALLATION
(1) Raise the axle with lifting device and align to
the leaf spring centering bolts.
(2) Install the spring clamps and spring brackets.
(3) Install the shock absorbers.
(4) Install the RWAL sensor to the differential
housing, if necessary
(5) Install the parking brake cables and cable
brackets.
(6)
Install the brake hose to the axle junction block.
(7) Install axle vent hose.
(8) Install the propeller shaft with reference marks
aligned.
(9) Install the wheels and tires.
(10) Add gear lubricant, if necessary. Refer to
Specifications for lubricant requirements.
(11) Remove lifting device from axle and lower the
vehicle.
ADJUSTMENTS
Ring and pinion gears are supplied as matched
sets only. The identifying numbers for the ring and
pinion gear are etched into the face of each gear (Fig.
4). A plus (+) number, minus (±) number or zero (0) is
etched into the face of the pinion gear. This number
is the amount (in thousandths of an inch) the depth
varies from the standard depth setting of a pinion
etched with a (0). The standard setting from the cen-
ter line of the ring gear to the back face of the pinion
is 147.625 mm (5.812 in.). The standard depth pro-
vides the best teeth contact pattern. Refer to Back-
lash and Contact Pattern Analysis Paragraph in this
section for additional information.
Compensation for pinion depth variance is
achieved with select shims. The shims are placed
under the inner pinion bearing cone (Fig. 5).If a new gear set is being installed, note the depth
variance etched into both the original and replace-
ment pinion gear. Add or subtract the thickness of
the original depth shims to compensate for the differ-
ence in the depth variances. Refer to the Depth Vari-
ance charts.
Note where Old and New Pinion Marking columns
intersect. Intersecting figure represents plus or
minus amount needed.
Note the etched number on the face of the drive pin-
ion gear (±1, ±2, 0, +1, +2, etc.). The numbers represent
Fig. 4 PINION GEAR ID NUMBERS
1 - PRODUCTION NUMBERS
2 - PINION GEAR DEPTH VARIANCE
3 - GEAR MATCHING NUMBER
Fig. 5 SHIM LOCATIONS
1 - PINION BEARING PRELOAD SHIM
2 - DIFFERENTIAL BEARING SHIM
3 - PINION GEAR DEPTH SHIM
3 - 112 REAR AXLE - 286RBIBR/BE
REAR AXLE - 286RBI (Continued)

thousands of an inch deviation from the standard. If the
number is negative, add that value to the required
thickness of the depth shim(s). If the number is posi-tive, subtract that value from the thickness of the depth
shim(s). If the number is 0 no change is necessary. Refer
to the Pinion Gear Depth Variance Chart.
PINION GEAR DEPTH VARIANCE
Original
Pinion
Gear
Depth
VarianceReplacement Pinion Gear Depth Variance
24232221 0 +1 +2 +3 +4
+4+0.008 +0.007 +0.006 +0.005 +0.004 +0.003 +0.002 +0.001 0
+3+0.007 +0.006 +0.005 +0.004 +0.003 +0.002 +0.001 020.001
+2+0.006 +0.005 +0.004 +0.003 +0.002 +0.001 020.00120.002
+1+0.005 +0.004 +0.003 +0.002 +0.001 020.00120.00220.003
0+0.004 +0.003 +0.002 +0.001 020.00120.00220.00320.004
21+0.003 +0.002 +0.001 020.00120.00220.00320.00420.005
22+0.002 +0.001 020.00120.00220.00320.00420.00520.006
23+0.001 020.00120.00220.00320.00420.00520.00620.007
24020.00120.00220.00320.00420.00520.00620.00720.008
PINION DEPTH MEASUREMENT AND ADJUSTMENT
Measurements are taken with pinion cups and pin-
ion bearings installed in housing. Take measure-
ments with a Pinion Gauge Set 6730 and Dial
Indicator C-3339 (Fig. 6).
(1) Assemble Pinion Height Block 6739, Pinion
Block 6738 and rear pinion bearing onto Screw 6741
(Fig. 6).
(2) Insert assembled height gauge components,
rear bearing and screw into the housing through pin-
ion bearing cups (Fig. 7).
(3) Install front pinion bearing and Cone 6740
hand tight (Fig. 6).
(4) Place Arbor Disc 6732 on Arbor D-115-3 in posi-
tion in the housing side bearing cradles (Fig. 8).
Install differential bearing caps on Arbor Discs and
snug the bearing cap bolts. Then tighten cap bolts in
a criss-cross pattern to 108 N´m (80 ft. lbs.).
NOTE: Arbor Discs 6732 have different step diame-
ters to fit other axle sizes. Pick correct size step for
axle being serviced.
(5) Assemble Dial Indicator C-3339 into Scooter
Block D-115-2 and secure set screw.
(6) Position Scooter Block/Dial Indicator flush on
the pinion height block. Hold scooter block and zero
the dial indicator.
(7) Slowly slide the scooter block across the pinion
height block over to the arbor (Fig. 9). Move the
scooter block till dial indicator crests the arbor, then
record the highest reading.
Fig. 6 PINION GEAR DEPTH GAUGE
1 - DIAL INDICATOR
2 - ARBOR
3 - PINION HEIGHT BLOCK
4 - CONE
5 - SCREW
6 - PINION BLOCK
7 - SCOOTER BLOCK
8 - ARBOR DISC
BR/BEREAR AXLE - 286RBI 3 - 113
REAR AXLE - 286RBI (Continued)

(8) Select a shim equal to the dial indicator read-
ing plus the drive pinion gear depth variance number
etched in the face of the pinion gear (Fig. 4) using
the opposite sign on the variance number. For exam-
ple, if the depth variance is ±2, add +0.002 in. to the
dial indicator reading.
(9) Remove the pinion depth gauge components
from the axle housing
DIFFERENTIAL BEARING PRELOAD AND GEAR
BACKLASH
Differential side bearing preload and gear backlash
is achieved by selective shims positioned behind thedifferential side bearing cones. The proper shim
thickness can be determined using slip-fit dummy
bearings D-346 in place of the differential side bear-
ings and a dial indicator C-3339. Before proceeding
with the differential bearing preload and gear back-
lash measurements, measure the pinion gear depth
and prepare the pinion gear for installation. Estab-
lishing proper pinion gear depth is essential to estab-
lishing gear backlash and tooth contact patterns.
After the overall shim thickness to take up differen-
tial side play is measured, the pinion gear is
installed, and the gear backlash shim thickness is
measured. The overall shim thickness is the total of
the dial indicator reading and the preload specifica-
tion added together. The gear backlash measurement
determines the thickness of the shim used on the
ring gear side of the differential case. Subtract the
gear backlash shim thickness from the total overall
shim thickness and select that amount for the pinion
gear side of the differential (Fig. 10). Differential
shim measurements are performed with axle
spreader W-129-B removed.
SHIM SELECTION
NOTE: It is difficult to salvage the differential side
bearings during the removal procedure. Install
replacement bearings if necessary.
(1) Remove differential side bearings from differ-
ential case.
(2) Remove factory installed shims from differen-
tial case.
(3) Install ring gear on differential case and
tighten bolts to specification, if necessary.
Fig. 7 PINION HEIGHT BLOCK
1 - PINION BLOCK
2 - PINION HEIGHT BLOCK
Fig. 8 GAUGE TOOLS IN HOUSING
1 - ARBOR DISC
2 - PINION BLOCK
3 - ARBOR
4 - PINION HEIGHT BLOCK
Fig. 9 PINION DEPTH MEASUREMENT
1 - ARBOR
2 - SCOOTER BLOCK
3 - DIAL INDICATOR
3 - 114 REAR AXLE - 286RBIBR/BE
REAR AXLE - 286RBI (Continued)

(33) Push and hold ring gear upward while not
allowing the pinion gear to rotate.
(34) Zero dial indicator face to pointer.
(35) Push and hold ring gear downward while not
allowing the pinion gear to rotate. Dial indicator
reading should be between 0.12 mm (0.005 in.) and
0.20 mm (0.008 in.). If backlash is not within specifi-
cations transfer the necessary amount of shim thick-
ness from one side of the axle housing to the other
(Fig. 20).
(36) Verify differential case and ring gear runout
by measuring ring to pinion gear backlash at several
locations around the ring gear. Readings should not
vary more than 0.05 mm (0.002 in.). If readings vary
more than specified, the ring gear or the differential
case is defective.
After the proper backlash is achieved, perform
Gear Contact Pattern Analysis procedure.GEAR CONTACT PATTERN ANALYSIS
The ring gear and pinion teeth contact patterns
will show if the pinion depth is correct in the axle
housing. It will also show if the ring gear backlash
has been adjusted correctly. The backlash can be
adjusted within specifications to achieve desired
tooth contact patterns.
(1) Apply a thin coat of hydrated ferric oxide, or
equivalent, to the drive and coast side of the ring
gear teeth.
(2) Wrap, twist, and hold a shop towel around the
pinion yoke to increase the turning resistance of the
pinion. This will provide a more distinct contact pat-
tern.
(3) Using a boxed end wrench on a ring gear bolt,
Rotate the differential case one complete revolution
in both directions while a load is being applied from
shop towel.
The areas on the ring gear teeth with the greatest
degree of contact against the pinion teeth will squee-
gee the compound to the areas with the least amount
of contact. Note and compare patterns on the ring
gear teeth to Gear Tooth Contact Patterns chart (Fig.
21)and adjust pinion depth and gear backlash as nec-
essary.
Fig. 20 BACKLASH SHIM ADJUSTMENT
3 - 118 REAR AXLE - 286RBIBR/BE
REAR AXLE - 286RBI (Continued)