Chevrolet 1977 10 Series, Repair Manual, Page: 81 / 468

REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL
4B-9
DRIFT
Fig. 4 B -1 3 --D rive P in io n N u t R em oval
5. Lubricate both outer cups with liberal am ounts of
hypoid lubricant.
6. Install the rear cup, with the large end against the bore
shoulder, using Rear Pinion Bearing Cup Installer J-8608 for
the 8-1/2" ring gear and the 8-3/4" ring gear, J-7818 for the
7-1/2" ring gear, as shown in figure 4B-17.
7. Install the front cup, with the large end against the
bore shoulder, using Installer J-7137 as shown in figure 4B-
18.
8. Check both bores to make sure cups are fully seated.
Setting Pinion Depth and Installing Pinion
Bearings
NOTE:
If the original ring gear and pinion and the
pinion rear bearing assembly are to be reinstalled, the
original shim thickness may be used.
Ring and pinion gear sets are m atched in a special test
machine which permits adjustm ent of pinion depth in ring
gear until a point is reached where best operation and proper
tooth contact under load is obtained. A t this point, the setting
of the pinion with reference to the centerline of the ring gear
is indicated by the machine. This setting may vary slightly
Fig. 4 B - 1 5--R em oving D rive P inion
from the design or "nom inal" setting due to allowable
variation in m achining the parts. W hen a pinion is found
having a plus or minus reading recorded in thousandths on
the rear face of the pinion, this indicates that the pinion
during testing was found to have best tooth contact at a
position varying from design or nominal depth.
In order to compensate for all of the allowable
machining variables, a procedure of gauging the carrier and
shimming the pinion has been developed. After gauging a
carrier, the assembler m ust install the appropriate shim
between the drive pinion shoulder and rear bearing so that
pinion depth can be adjusted to the required position for best
tooth contact in each axle assembly.
Proper pinion depth is determ ined with Pinion Setting
Gauge J-2 1777-01 for the 8-1/2" and 8-3/4" ring gear, gauge
J-23597-01 for the 7-1/2" ring gear.
1. Clean the housing assembly and all gauge parts to
insure accurate measurements.
2. Lubricate front and rear pinion bearings which will
be used in final assembly and position them in their respective
races in the carrier.
J— 8 61 4-2
Fig. 4B-14--Drive Pinion Flange Removal
Fig. 4B-1 6--Removing Drive Pinion Rear Bearing Typical