Chevrolet 1977 Monte Carlo, Repair Manual

Page: 105 / 428

REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL 4B-37
Fig. 8G --D ifferential B earing In s ta lla tio n
R eassem bly
1. Place new pinion bearing retainer gasket on the
retainer and install pinion assem bly in carrier.
N O TIC E:
T he pinion assem bly should be pressed into
the carrier to prevent the possibility o f dam aging the
shim s.
2. Install pinion bearing retainer bolts and lock washers
and torque bolts to specifications.
3. Lubricate differential bearing rollers with engine oil
and place outer races over them.
4. Install differenital assem bly in carrier and install
adjusting nuts. Carefully slide adjusting nuts alongside the
bearings so that threads on nuts fit into threads in carrier.
5. Install differential bearing caps m aking sure the
marks on the caps line up with the marks on the carrier.
6. Install bearing cap bolts and lock washers and
tighten until lock w ashers just flatten out.
B acklash and Preload A d ju s tm e n t
1. W ith differential bearing cap bolts loosened just
enough to permit turning the bearing adjustm ent nuts with
T ool J-0972, rem ove all lash between ring gear and pinion.
See figure 9G.
2. Back o ff left hand adjusting nut one to two notches
to a locking position.
3. Tighten right hand adjusting nut firmly to force
differential in solid contact with left hand adjusting nut.
4. Back o ff right hand adjusting nut until free o f
bearing; then retighten snugly against bearing.
5. Tighten right hand nut from one to tw o additional
notches to a locking position.
This m ethod o f adjustm ent provides for proper preload
o f bearings.
6. M ount a dial indicator on the carrier and check the
backlash between ring gear and pinion as show n in figure
10G. Backlash should be from .003" to .012" (.005" to .008"
preferred).
I f backlash is m ore than .012 inch, loosen the right
hand adjusting nut one notch and tighten left hand adjusting
nut one n otch. If backlash is less than .003 inch, loosen the
Fig. 9 G -B a c k la s h and Preload A d ju s tm e n t
left hand adjusting nut one notch and tighten right hand nut
one notch.
7. T ighten bearing cap bolts to specifications.
8. Install side bearing adjusting nut locks and torque
to specifications.
Ring G ear T h ru s t Pad A d ju s tm e n t
1. Inspect bronze tip o f thrust pad and if worn install
a new one.
2. Install thrust pad and tighten screw until bronze tip
engages back face o f ring gear w hile rotating gear.
3. Back o ff screw one-tw elfth (1 /1 2 ) turn and tighten
locknut to specifications. See figure 11G.
M ake sure screw does not turn during locking process.
T his adjustm ent provides .005 in. to .007 in. clearance
between thrust pad and ring gear face.
In s ta lla tio n
1. Clean out axle housing and cover and place new
gasket over axle housing.
2. A ssem ble differential carrier to axle housing, install
lockw ashers and bolts and tighten securely.
Fig. 10G --Checking Backlash
O V E R H A U L M A N U A L