2003 CHRYSLER CARAVAN differential

also shows the outer race/viscous coupler. Notice the
surface (outer race) the rollers mate against when
transferring torque.
DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY
DESCRIPTION
The differential gear system divides the torque
between the axle shafts. It allows the axle shafts to
rotate at different speeds when turning corners.
Each differential side gear is splined to an axle
shaft. The pinion gears are mounted on a pinion
mate shaft and are free to rotate on the shaft. The
pinion gear is fitted in a bore in the differential case
and is positioned at a right angle to the axle shafts.
OPERATION
In operation, power flow occurs as follows:
²The pinion gear rotates the ring gear
²The ring gear (bolted to the differential case)
rotates the case
²The differential pinion gears (mounted on the
pinion mate shaft in the case) rotate the side gears
²The side gears (splined to the axle shafts) rotate
the shafts
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.
38).
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.
39). In this instance, the input torque applied to the
pinion gears is not divided equally. The pinion gears
Fig. 35 High Speed Latch Engaged
1 - CAGE FORCE EXERTED BY ROLLERS AT HIGH SPEED
Fig. 36 BOC Operation at High Speed with High
Speed Latch
Fig. 37 BOC Input Shaft
1 - GROOVED AREA (2 LOCATIONS)
2 - ROLLER MATING SURFACE
RSREAR DRIVELINE MODULE3-39
BI-DIRECTIONAL OVERRUNNING CLUTCH (Continued)
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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.
FLUID - DIFFERENTIAL
ASSEMBLY
STANDARD PROCEDURE - DIFFERENTIAL
ASSEMBLY FLUID CHANGE
The drain plug (Fig. 40) for the differential assem-
bly is located in the bottom of the differential assem-
bly case, toward the rear of the unit.
The fill plug (Fig. 41) for the differential assembly
is located on the rear of the assembly case.The correct fill level is to the bottom of the fill plug
hole. Be sure the vehicle is on a level surface, or is
hoisted in a level manner, in order to obtain the cor-
rect fill level.
(1) Raise the vehicle on a hoist.
(2) Position a drain pan under the differential
drain plug (Fig. 40).
(3) Remove the drain plug and allow the fluid to
drain into the pan.
(4) Install the drain plug and torque to 35 N´m (26
ft. lbs.).
Fig. 38 Differential OperationÐStraight 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. 39 Differential OperationÐOn Turns
1 - PINION GEARS ROTATE ON PINION SHAFT
Fig. 40 Differential Drain Plug
1 - DIFFERENTIAL DRAIN PLUG
Fig. 41 Differential Fill Plug
1 - DIFFERENTIAL FILL PLUG
3 - 40 REAR DRIVELINE MODULERS
DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY (Continued)
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(5) Re-position the drain pan under the differential
fill plug.
(6) Remove the differential fill plug (Fig. 41).
(7) Using a suction gun (Fig. 42) or equivalent, fill
the differential assembly with 0.7 L (1.48 pts.) of
MopartGear and Axle Lubricant (80W-90).
(8) Install the fill plug and torque to 35 N´m (26 ft.
lbs.).
FLUID - OVERRUNNING
CLUTCH HOUSING
STANDARD PROCEDURE - OVERRUNNING
CLUTCH HOUSING FLUID CHANGE
(1) Raise vehicle on hoist.
(2) Position a drain pan under overrunning clutch
housing drain plug.
(3) Remove overrunning clutch housing drain plug
and drain fluid (Fig. 43).
(4) Install the drain plug and torque to 30 N´m (22
ft. lbs.).
(5) Re-position the drain pan under the overrun-
ning clutch housing fill plug.
(6) Remove fill plug (Fig. 44).
(7) Using a suction gun (Fig. 45), add 0.58 L (1.22
pts.) of MopartATF+4 (Automatic Transmission Flu-
idÐType 9602).
(8) Install fill plug and torque to 30 N´m (22 ft.
lbs.).
VISCOUS COUPLER
DESCRIPTION
The heart of the all-wheel drive system is the
inter-axle viscous coupling and bi-directional over-
running clutch. Under normal driving the vehicle
retains predominantly front wheel drive characteris-
tics. The all-wheel drive takes effect when the front
wheels start to slip. Under normal level road,
straight line driving, 100% of the torque is allocated
to the front wheels. The viscous coupler allows more
Fig. 42 Filling Differential
1 - DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY
2 - SUCTION GUN
Fig. 43 Overrunning Clutch Case Drain Plug
1 - OVERRUNNING CLUTCH HOUSING DRAIN PLUG
Fig. 44 Overrunning Clutch Housing Fill Plug
1 - OVERRUNNING CLUTCH HOUSING FILL PLUG
2 - FUEL TANK
RSREAR DRIVELINE MODULE3-41
FLUID - DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY (Continued)
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TORQUE ARM
REMOVAL
(1) Raise vehicle on hoist.
(2) Remove rear driveline module assembly. (Refer
to 3 - DIFFERENTIAL & DRIVELINE/REAR DRIV-
ELINE MODULE - REMOVAL)
(3) Remove six torque arm-to-differential assembly
bolts (Fig. 47). Remove torque arm.
INSTALLATION
(1) Install six torque arm-to-differential assembly
bolts (Fig. 47) and torque to 60 N´m (44 ft. lbs.).
(2) Install rear driveline module assembly. (Refer
to 3 - DIFFERENTIAL & DRIVELINE/REAR DRIV-
ELINE MODULE - INSTALLATION)
(3) Lower vehicle.
INPUT FLANGE SEAL
REMOVAL
(1) Raise vehicle on hoist.
(2) Remove propeller shaft. (Refer to 3 - DIFFER-
ENTIAL & DRIVELINE/PROPELLER SHAFT -
REMOVAL)
(3) Using tool 6958, remove input flange nut and
washer (Fig. 48).
(4) Remove input flange (Fig. 49).(5) Using suitable screwdriver, remove input
flange seal from overrunning clutch housing (Fig.
50).
Fig. 47 Torque Arm Fasteners
1 - TORQUE ARM ASSEMBLY
2 - BOLT (SIX)
Fig. 48 Input Flange Nut
1 - INPUT FLANGE
2 - TOOL 6958
Fig. 49 Input Flange
1 - INPUT FLANGE/SHIELD
3 - 44 REAR DRIVELINE MODULERS
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INSTALLATION
(1) Using tool 8802, install input flange seal to
overrunning clutch case (Fig. 51).
(2) Install input flange (Fig. 52).
(3) Install flange nut and washer. Using tool 6958,
torque flange nut to 135 N´m (100 ft. lbs.) (Fig. 53).
(4) Install propeller shaft. (Refer to 3 - DIFFER-
ENTIAL & DRIVELINE/PROPELLER SHAFT -
INSTALLATION)
(5) Lower vehicle.
OUTPUT FLANGE SEAL
REMOVAL
(1) Raise vehicle on hoist.
(2) Remove rear halfshaft inner joint at differen-
tial output flange (Fig. 54).
(3) Using two screwdrivers and wood blocks to pro-
tect differential housing casting, pry output flange
out of differential (Fig. 55).
(4) Use suitable screwdriver to remove output
flange seal (Fig. 56).
Fig. 50 Input Flange Seal Removal
1 - INPUT FLANGE SEAL
2 - SCREWDRIVER
Fig. 51 Input Flange Seal Installation
1 - TOOL 8802
2 - HAMMER
Fig. 52 Input Flange
1 - INPUT FLANGE/SHIELD
Fig. 53 Input Flange Nut
1 - INPUT FLANGE
2 - TOOL 6958
RSREAR DRIVELINE MODULE3-45
INPUT FLANGE SEAL (Continued)
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INSTALLATION
(1) Install output flange seal to differential hous-
ing using tool C4171A and 8493 (Fig. 57).
Fig. 54 Inner Half Shaft Bolts
1 - SHAFT
2 - FLANGE
Fig. 55 Output Flange Removal
1 - WOOD BLOCK
2 - PRYBAR
3 - OUTPUT SHAFT
4 - PRYBAR
5 - WOOD BLOCK
6 - DIFFERENTIAL CASE
Fig. 56 Output Flange Seal Removal
1 - OUTPUT FLANGE SEAL
2 - SCREWDRIVER
Fig. 57 Output Flange Seal Installation
1 - DRIVER HANDLE C4171
2 - INSTALLER 8493
3 - 46 REAR DRIVELINE MODULERS
OUTPUT FLANGE SEAL (Continued)
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(2) Install ouput flange to differential assembly.
Verify that it is seated all the way into position by
attempting to pull out by hand.
(3) Install rear halfshaft inner joint to output
flange.
(4) Install and torque bolts to 61 N´m (45 ft. lbs.)
(Fig. 58).
(5) Check differential assembly fluid level and
adjust as required. (Refer to 3 - DIFFERENTIAL &
DRIVELINE/REAR DRIVELINE MODULE/FLUID -
STANDARD PROCEDURE)
Fig. 58 Inner Half Shaft Bolts
1 - SHAFT
2 - FLANGE
RSREAR DRIVELINE MODULE3-47
OUTPUT FLANGE SEAL (Continued)
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NOTE: Make sure wheel speed sensor stays clean
and dry as it is installed into the hub and bearing
cap.
(1) If metal sensor retaining clip is not in the neu-
tral installed position on hub and bearing cap, install
from the bottom, if necessary, and push clip upward
until it snaps into position.
(2) Install wheel speed sensor head into rear of
hub and bearing aligning index tab with the notch in
the top of the mounting hole. Push the sensor in
until it snaps into place on the metal retaining clip.
(3) Install secondary (yellow) retaining clip over
wheel speed sensor head and engage the tabs on each
side.
(4) Route sensor cable under leaf spring along rear
of axle. Install speed sensor cable into routing clips
on rear brake flex hose (Fig. 3).
(5) Install cable into metal routing clip and attach
it to the rear axle with mounting bolt (Fig. 3).
Tighten mounting bolt to 16 N´m (140 in. lbs.).
(6) Connect wheel speed sensor cable to vehicle
wiring harness (Fig. 2).Be sure speed sensor
cable connector is fully seated and locked into
vehicle wiring harness connector.
(7) Install speed sensor cable grommet into hole in
floor pan making sure grommet is fully seated into
hole.
(8) Lower vehicle.
(9) Road test vehicle to ensure proper operation of
the base and ABS braking systems.
TONE WHEEL
INSPECTION - TONE WHEEL
NOTE: Rear tone wheels for front-wheel-drive vehi-
cles are sealed within the hub and bearing assem-
bly and cannot be inspected or replaced.
Replacement of the hub and bearing is necessary.
Tone wheels can cause erratic wheel speed sensor
signals. Inspect tone wheels for the following possible
causes.
²missing, chipped, or broken teeth
²contact with the wheel speed sensor
²wheel speed sensor to tone wheel alignment
²wheel speed sensor to tone wheel clearance
²excessive tone wheel runout
²tone wheel loose on its mounting surface
If a front tone wheel is found to need replacement,
the drive shaft must be replaced. No attempt should
be made to replace just the tone wheel. (Refer to 3 -
DIFFERENTIAL & DRIVELINE/HALF SHAFT -
REMOVAL)If a rear tone wheel is found to need replacement
on an all-wheel-drive model, the drive shaft must be
replaced. No attempt should be made to replace just
the tone wheel. (Refer to 3 - DIFFERENTIAL &
DRIVELINE/HALF SHAFT - REMOVAL)
If wheel speed sensor to tone wheel contact is evi-
dent, determine the cause and correct it before
replacing the wheel speed sensor or tone wheel.
Check the gap between the speed sensor head and
the tone wheel to ensure it is within specifications.
(Refer to 5 - BRAKES - ABS/ELECTRICAL - SPEC-
IFICATIONS)
Excessive wheel speed sensor runout can cause
erratic wheel speed sensor signals. Refer to SPECI-
FICATIONS in this section of the service manual for
the maximum allowed tone wheel runout (Refer to 5 -
BRAKES - ABS/ELECTRICAL - SPECIFICATIONS).
If tone wheel runout is excessive, determine if it is
caused by a defect in the driveshaft assembly or hub
and bearing. Replace as necessary.
Tone wheels are pressed onto their mounting sur-
faces and should not rotate independently from the
mounting surface. Replacement of the front drive-
shaft, rear driveshaft (AWD only) or rear hub and
bearing is necessary.
TRACTION CONTROL SWITCH
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - TRACTION
CONTROL SWITCH
(1) Remove lower column shroud.
(2) Disconnect traction control switch harness from
column harness below column.
(3) Using an ohmmeter, check for continuity read-
ing between pins. Refer to TRACTION CONTROL
SWITCH CONTINUITY test table and (Fig. 5).
TRACTION CONTROL SWITCH CONTINUITY
SWITCH POSITION CONTINUITY BETWEEN
ACTUATED PINS 1 AND 2
ILLUMINATION PINS 1 AND 3
Fig. 5 TRACTION CONTROL SWITCH CONNECTOR
5 - 82 BRAKES - ABSRS
REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR - FWD (Continued)
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