2002 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE rings

(8) Thread Pilot Stud C-3288-B into rear cover bolt
hole below ring gear (Fig. 17).
(9) Attach the Dial Indicator C-3339 to pilot stud
and position the indicator plunger on the flat surface
between the ring gear bolts (Fig. 17).(10) Push and hold differential case to pinion gear
side of the housing and zero dial indicator (Fig. 18).
(11) Push and hold differential case to ring gear
side of the housing and record dial indicator reading
(Fig. 19).
(12) Add 0.0254 mm (0.001 in.) to the zero end
play total. This new total represents the thickness of
shims to compress, or preload the new bearings when
the differential is installed.
(13) Rotate dial indicator out of the way on the
pilot stud.
Fig. 16 SEAT DUMMY BEARING
1 - HOUSING
2 - HAMMER
3 - DIFFERENTIAL CASE
Fig. 17 DIFFERENTIAL SIDE PLAY MEASUREMENT
1 - DIFFERENTIAL CASE
2 - HOUSING
3 - PILOT STUD
4 - DIAL INDICATOR
Fig. 18 DIFFERENTIAL CASE PINION GEAR SIDE
1 - FORCE DIFFERENTIAL CASE TO PINION GEAR SIDE
2 - PILOT STUD
3 - DIAL INDICATOR
4 - DIAL INDICATOR FACE
Fig. 19 DIFFERENTIAL CASE RING GEAR SIDE
1 - READ DIAL INDICATOR
2 - FORCE DIFFERENTIAL CASE TO RING GEAR SIDE
3 - DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING
WJREAR AXLE - 226RBA 3 - 101
REAR AXLE - 226RBA (Continued)

(14) Remove differential case and dummy bearings
from the housing.
(15) Install the pinion gear in the housing. Install
the pinion yoke and establish the correct pinion
rotating torque.
(16) Install differential case and Dummy Bearings
6929-A in the housing.
(17) Install a single dummy shim in the ring gear
side. Install bearing caps and tighten bolts snug.
(18) Seat ring gear side dummy bearing (Fig. 16).
(19) Position the dial indicator plunger on a flat
surface between the ring gear bolt heads. (Fig. 17).
(20) Push and hold differential case toward pinion
gear and zero dial indicator (Fig. 20).
(21) Push and hold differential case to ring gear
side of the housing and record dial indicator reading
(Fig. 21). Add Dummy Shim thickness to this read-
ing. This will be the total shim thickness to achieve
zero backlash.
(22) Subtract 0.152 mm (0.006 in.) from the dial
indicator reading to compensate for backlash between
ring and pinion gears. This total is the thickness
shim required to achieve proper backlash.(23) Subtract backlash shim thickness from the
total preload shim thickness. The remainder is the
shim thickness required on the pinion side of the
housing.
(24) Rotate dial indicator out of the way on pilot
stud.
(25) Remove differential case and dummy bearings
from the housing.
(26) Install side bearings and cups on differential
case.
(27) Install spreader W-129-B, utilizing some items
from Adapter Set 6987, on the housing and spread
axle opening enough to receive differential case.
(28) Place the bearing preload shims in the hous-
ing against the axle tubes.
(29) Install differential case into the housing.
(30) Remove spreader from housing.
(31) Rotate the differential case several times to
seat the side bearings.
Fig. 20 ZERO DIAL INDICATOR
1 - DIAL INDICATOR FACE
2 - FORCE DIFFERENTIAL CASE TO PINION GEAR SIDE
3 - PINION GEAR
4 - HOUSING
5 - DIFFERENTIAL CASE
Fig. 21 DIFFERENTIAL CASE RING GEAR SIDE
1 - READ DIAL INDICATOR
2 - FORCE DIFFERENTIAL CASE TO RING GEAR SIDE
3 - PINION GEAR
4 - DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING
5 - DIFFERENTIAL CASE
3 - 102 REAR AXLE - 226RBAWJ
REAR AXLE - 226RBA (Continued)

DIFFERENTIAL BEARING PRELOAD CHECK
The final check on the differential assembly before
installing the axles is torque to rotate pinion and dif-
ferential combined. This will verify the correct differ-
ential bearing preload.Torque to rotate the differential and pinion should
be the torque to rotate the pinion plus 0.79-1.24 N´m
(7-11 in. lbs.).
SPECIFICATIONS
AXLE SPECIFICATIONS
DESCRIPTION SPECIFICATION
Axle Ratio 3.31, 3.55, 3.73, 3.91
Differential Bearing Preload 0.025 mm (0.001 in.)
Ring Gear Diameter 226 mm (8.9 in.)
Ring Gear Backlash 0.076.-0.15 mm (0.003-0.006 in.)
Pinion Gear Std. Depth 109.52 mm (4.312 in.)
Pinion Bearing Preload - Original Bearings 1-2 N´m (10-20 in. lbs.)
Pinion Bearing Preload - New Bearings 2.8-4 N´m (25-35 in. lbs.)
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
DESCRIPTION N´m Ft. Lbs. In. Lbs.
Differential Cover Bolts 41 30 -
Bearing Cap Bolts 85 63 -
Ring Gear Bolts 136 100 -
Pinion Nut 298-380 220-280 -
Pinion Mate Shaft Screw 17.6 13 -
Axle Bearing Retainer Plate
Nuts61 45 -
WJREAR AXLE - 226RBA 3 - 105
REAR AXLE - 226RBA (Continued)

AXLE SHAFTS
REMOVAL
(1) Place transmission in neutral.
(2) Raise and support vehicle.
(3) Remove wheel and tire assembly.
(4) Remove brake caliper and rotor.
(5) Remove nuts holding axle retainer plate to axle
tube from the rear of the axle flange.
(6) Pull axle shaft from the axle with Slide Ham-
mer 7420 and Adapter 6790. Mount the adapter to
the axle with lug nuts.
NOTE: The axle bearing race is normally loose in
the axle tube.
INSTALLATION
(1) Insall axle into the axle tube with the flat area
of the retainer plate upward.
(2) Insert retaining plate studs into the brake
backing plate and axle tube flange.
(3) Install retainer nuts and tighten nuts to 61
N´m (45 ft. lbs.).
(4) Install the brake rotor and caliper.
(5) Install wheel and tire.
(6) Check and fill the differential with gear lubri-
cant.
(7) Lower vehicle.
AXLE BEARINGS/SEALS
REMOVAL
(1) Remove axle shaft from vehicle.
NOTE: The axle bearing race is normally loose in
the axle tube.
(2) Drill a shallow hole into soft steel axle bearing
retaining ring with a 3/8 in. drill bit (Fig. 25). Use a
drill depth stop to avoid marking the axle.
(3) With a cold chisel cut the retaining ring across
drilled hole. (Fig. 26)
(4) Slide retaining ring from axle shaft.
Fig. 25 DRILL RETAINING RING
1 - DRILL BIT
2 - AXLE
3 - RETAINING PLATE
4 - RETAINING RING
Fig. 26 RETAINING RING
1 - AXLE
2 - COLD CHISEL
3 - VISE
4 - RETAINING RING
WJREAR AXLE - 226RBA 3 - 109

(5) Remove axle bearing from the shaft with, a
press and Splitter 1130 placed between the seal and
bearing (Fig. 27).
(6) Remove seal from axle.
(7) Remove retaining plate from axle shaft.
INSTALLATION
(1) Verify axle shaft retaining plate is flat with a
straight edge.
NOTE: If the plate is warped or the studs are loose
in the plate replace the retaining plate.
(2) Install retaining plate on the axle shaft (Fig.
28).
(3) Apply a coat of multi-purpose grease on sealing
surface of axle seal.
(4) Install seal on the axle shaft with cavity away
from retaining plate (Fig. 28).
(5) Lubricate bearing with Mopar Wheel Bearing
Grease or equivalent. Wipe excess grease from the
bearing.
(6) Install bearing on the axle shaft with Installer
7913 and a press (Fig. 29).
Fig. 27 AXLE BEARING AND SEAL
1 - SPLITTER
2 - AXLE
3 - BLOCKS
4 - PRESS PLATES
Fig. 28 AXLE BEARING AND SEAL COMPONENTS
1 - RETAINING RING
2 - SEAL
3 - AXLE
4 - RETAINING PLATE
5 - AXLE BEARING
Fig. 29 PRESS BEARING ON AXLE
1 - PRESS RAM
2 - INSTALLER
3 - AXLE BEARING
4 - SEAL
5 - RETAINING PLATE
6 - AXLE
3 - 110 REAR AXLE - 226RBAWJ
AXLE BEARINGS/SEALS (Continued)

(7) Press metal retaining ring onto axle shaft with
Installer 7913 and a press (Fig. 30).
(8) Install axle in vehicle.
PINION SEAL
REMOVAL
(1) Raise and support the vehicle.
(2) Remove wheel and tire assemblies.
(3) Remove rear brake calipers and rotors.
(4) Mark propeller shaft and pinion yoke for
installation reference.
(5) Remove the propeller shaft from the yoke.
(6) Rotate pinion gear three or four times and ver-
ify that pinion rotates smoothly.
(7) Record torque necessary to rotate the pinion
gear with a inch pound dial-type torque wrench.
(8) Using a short piece of pipe and Spanner
Wrench 6958 to hold the pinion yoke and remove pin-
ion nut and washer (Fig. 31).
(9) Remove pinion companion flange with Remover
C-452 and Flange Wrench C-3281. (Fig. 32)
Fig. 30 BEARING RETAINING RING
1 - PRESS
2 - AXLE
3 - AXLE BEARING
4 - INSTALLER
5 - METAL RETAINING RING
Fig. 31 Pinion Yoke Holder
1 - PIPE
2 - PINION YOKE
3 - SPANNER WRENCH
4 - LOWER CONTROL ARM
Fig. 32 Pinion Yoke Remover
1 - FLANGE WRENCH
2 - YOKE
3 - YOKE PULLER
WJREAR AXLE - 226RBA 3 - 111
AXLE BEARINGS/SEALS (Continued)

(10) Remove pinion seal with Remover 7794-A and
a slide hammer (Fig. 33).
INSTALLATION
(1) Apply a light coating of gear lubricant on the
lip of pinion seal. Install seal with an appropriate in
installer (Fig. 34).
(2) Install yoke on the pinion gear with Installer
C-3718 and Spanner Wrench 6958 (Fig. 35).
(3) Install anewnut on the pinion gear.Tighten
the nut only enough to remove the shaft end
play.
CAUTION: Do not exceed the minimum tightening
torque 298 N´m (220 ft. lbs.) when installing the pin-
ion yoke retaining nut at this point. Damage to col-
lapsible spacer or bearings may result.(4) Rotate the pinion a minimum of ten times and
verify pinion rotates smoothly. Rotate the pinion
shaft using an inch pound torque wrench. Rotating
torque should be equal to the reading recorded dur-
ing removal, plus 0.56 N´m (5 in. lbs.) (Fig. 36).
Fig. 33 Pinion Seal Remover
1 - REMOVER
2 - SLIDE HAMMER
3 - PINION SEAL
Fig. 34 PINION SEAL INSTALLER
1 - HANDLE
2 - INSTALLER
Fig. 35 PINION YOKE INSTALLER
1 - INSTALLER
2 - PINION YOKE
3 - DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING
4 - SPANNER WRENCH
Fig. 36 PINION ROTATING TORQUE
1 - TORQUE WRENCH
2 - PINION YOKE
3 - 112 REAR AXLE - 226RBAWJ
PINION SEAL (Continued)

DISASSEMBLY
(1) Remove pinion shaft lock screw (Fig. 50).
(2) Remove pinion shaft.
(3) Rotate differential side gears and remove dif-
ferential pinions and thrust washers (Fig. 51).
(4) Remove differential side gears and thrust
washers.
ASSEMBLY
(1) Install differential side gears and thrust wash-
ers.
(2) Install differential pinion gears and thrust
washers.
(3) Install the pinion mate shaft.
(4) Align hole in the pinion mate shaft with the
hole in the differential case and install the pinion
mate shaft lock screw.
(5) Lubricate all differential components with
hypoid gear lubricant.
INSTALLATION
NOTE: If replacement differential bearings or differ-
ential case are being installed, differential side
bearing shim requirements may change. Refer
Adjustments (Differential Bearing Preload and Gear
Backlash) to determine the proper shim selection.
(1) Position Spreader W-129-B with Adapter set
6987 on differential housing locating holes. Install
the holddown clamps and tighten the tool turnbuckle
finger-tight.
(2) Install a Pilot Stud C-3288-B at the left side of
the differential housing. Attach Dial Indicator C-3339
to pilot stud. Load the indicator plunger against the
opposite side of the housing and zero the indicator.
CAUTION: Never spread the housing over 0.38 mm
(0.015 in). If housing is over-spread, it could be dis-
torted or damaged.
(3) Spread housing enough to install the case in
the housing.
(4) Remove the dial indicator.
(5) Install differential case in housing (Fig. 52).
Verify differential bearing cups remain in position on
the bearings and preload shims are between the face
of the bearing cup and the housing. Tap the differen-
tial case to ensure bearings cups and shims are
seated in the housing.
CAUTION: On a Vari-lokTdifferential the oil feed
tube must be pointed at the bottom of the housing
(Fig. 53). If differential is installed with the oil feed
tube pointed at the top, the anti-rotation tabs will be
damaged.
(6) Install bearing caps in their original locations
(Fig. 54).
(7) Loosely install differential bearing cap bolts.
(8) Remove axle housing spreader.
(9) Tighten bearing cap bolts in a criss-cross pat-
tern to 77 N´m (57 ft. lbs.).
(10) Install the axle shafts.
Fig. 50 SHAFT LOCK SCREW
1 - LOCK SCREW
2 - PINION SHAFT
Fig. 51 DIFFERENTIAL GEARS
1 - THRUST WASHER
2 - SIDE GEAR
3 - DIFFERENTIAL PINION
WJREAR AXLE - 226RBA 3 - 117
DIFFERENTIAL (Continued)