Jeep Cherokee 2000, Service Manual

Page: 164 / 1528

•
Mark the gears so the same teeth are meshed
during all backlash measurements.
•
Maintain the torque while adjusting the bearing
preload and ring gear backlash.
•
Excessive adjuster torque will introduce a high
bearing load and cause premature bearing failure.
Insufficient adjuster torque can result in excessive
differential case free-play and ring gear noise.
•
Insufficient adjuster torque will not support the
ring gear correctly and can cause excessive differen-
tial case free-play and ring gear noise.
NOTE: The differential bearing cups will not always
immediately follow the threaded adjusters as they
are moved during adjustment. To ensure accurate
bearing cup responses to the adjustments:
•
Maintain the gear teeth engaged (meshed) as
marked.
•
The bearings must be seated by rapidly rotat-
ing the pinion gear a half turn back and forth.
•
Do this five to ten times each time the threaded
adjusters are adjusted.
(1) Use Wrench C-4164 to adjust each threaded
adjuster inward until the differential bearing free-
play is eliminated (Fig. 57). Allow some ring gear
backlash (approximately 0.01 inch/0.25 mm) between
the ring and pinion gear. Seat the bearing cups with
the procedure described above.
(2) Install dial indicator and position the plunger
against the drive side of a ring gear tooth (Fig. 58).
Measure the backlash at 4 positions (90 degrees
apart) around the ring gear. Locate and mark the
area of minimum backlash.
(3) Rotate the ring gear to the position of the least
backlash. Mark the gear so that all future backlash
measurements will be taken with the same gear
teeth meshed.
(4) Loosen the right-side, tighten the left-side
threaded adjuster. Obtain backlash of 0.003 to 0.004
inch (0.076 to 0.102 mm) with each adjuster tight-
ened to 14 N·m (10 ft. lbs.). Seat the bearing cups
with the procedure described above.
(5) Tighten the differential bearing cap bolts 95
N·m (70 ft. lbs.).
(6) Tighten the right-side threaded adjuster to 102
N·m (75 ft. lbs.). Seat the bearing cups with the pro-
Fig. 55 Gauge Tools In Housing—Typical
1 – ARBOR DISC
2 – PINION BLOCK
3 – ARBOR
4 – PINION HEIGHT BLOCK
Fig. 56 Pinion Gear Depth Measurement—Typical
1 – ARBOR
2 – SCOOTER BLOCK
3 – DIAL INDICATOR
Fig. 57 Threaded Adjuster Tool
1 – AXLE TUBE
2 – BACKING PLATE
3 – TOOL C-4164
3 - 128 8 1/4 REAR AXLE
XJ
ADJUSTMENTS (Continued)