LEMON Manuals: Even more car manuals for everyone: 1960-2025
Home >> Nissan-Datsun >> 2003 >> Sentra SE-R Spec V >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 1883 (Front Final Drive) >> Front Final Drive Assembly >> Disassembly and Assembly >> Adjustment And Selection Adjusting Washers >> Pinion Gear Height
April 5, 2026: LEMON Manuals is launched! Read the announcement.

Pinion Gear Height

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2006 Nissan Xterra. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
  1. Make sure all parts are clean and that the bearings are well lubricated.
  2. Assemble the pinion gear bearings into the Tool.

    Tool number - (J-34309) 

    Fig 1: Assembling Pinion Gear Bearings Into Tool
    G04204510Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
    • Pinion front bearing;  make sure the J-34309-3 pinion front bearing seat is secured tightly against the J-34309-2 gauge anvil. Then turn the pinion front bearing pilot, J-34309-7, to secure the bearing in its proper position.
    • Pinion rear bearing;  the pinion rear bearing pilot, J-34309-8, is used to center the pinion rear bearing only. The pinion rear bearing locking seat, J-34309-4, is used to lock the bearing to the assembly.
    • Installation of J-34309-9 and J-34309-16;  place a suitable 2.5 mm (0.098 in) thick plain washer between J-34309-9 and J-34309-16. Both surfaces of J-34309-9 and J-34309-16 must be parallel with a clearance of 2.5 mm (0.098 in).
  3. Install the pinion rear bearing inner race into gear carrier. Then place the pinion preload shim selector tool, J-34309-1, gauge screw assembly.
    Fig 2: Identifying Pinion Front Bearing And Pinion Rear Bearing
    G04204511Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
    Fig 3: Installing Pinion Rear Bearing Inner Race Into Gear Carrier
    G04204512Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  4. Assemble the pinion front bearing inner race and the J-34309-2 gauge anvil. Assemble them together with the J-34309-1 gauge screw in gear carrier. Make sure that the pinion height gauge plate, J-34309-16, will turn a full 360 degrees. Tighten the two sections together by hand.
    Fig 4: Assembling Pinion Front Bearing Inner Race
    G04204513Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  5. Turn the assembly several times to seat the bearings.
    Fig 5: Turning Assembly Several Times To Seat Bearings
    G04204514Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  6. Measure the turning torque at the end of the J-34309-2 gauge anvil using Tool.

    Tool number: ST3127S000 (J-25765- A) 

    Turning torque specification: 

    1.0-1.6 N.m (0.11 - 0.16 kg-m, 9 -14 in-lb)

    Fig 6: Measuring Turning Torque
    G04204515Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  7. Place the J-34309-10 "R180A" pinion height adapter onto the gauge plate and tighten it by hand.
    CAUTION: Make sure all machined surfaces are clean.
    Fig 7: Placing Pinion Height Adapter Onto Gauge Plate
    G04204516Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  8. Position the side bearing discs, Tool, and arbor firmly into the side bearing bores. Install the bearing caps and tighten bearing cap bolts to the specified torque. Refer to "COMPONENTS ".

    Tool number - (J-25269-18) 

    Fig 8: Positioning Side Bearing Discs
    G04204517Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  9. Select the correct standard pinion height adjusting washer thickness. Select by using a standard gauge of 3 mm (0.12 in) and your J-34309-101 feeler gauge. Measure the distance between the J-34309-10 pinion height adapter including the standard gauge and the arbor.
    Fig 9: Measuring Distance Between Pinion Height Adapter Including Standard Gauge And Arbor
    G04204518Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  10. Write down exact measurement (the value of feeler gauge).
    Fig 10: Writing Down Exact Measurement
    G04204519Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  11. Correct the pinion height washer size by referring to the "pinion head number".

    There are two numbers painted on the drive pinion. The first one refers to the drive pinion and drive gear as a matched set. This number should be the same as the number on the drive gear. The second number is the "pinion head height number". It refers to the ideal pinion height from standard for quietest operation. Use the following chart to determine the correct pinion height washer  .

    Fig 11: Identifying Pinion Head Number
    G04204520Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
    PINION HEAD HEIGHT NUMBER AND MEASUREMENT

    Pinion head height number Add or remove from the standard pinion height adjusting washer thickness measurement
    -6 Add 0.06 mm (0.0024 in)
    -5 Add 0.05 mm (0.0020 in)
    -4 Add 0.04 mm (0.0016 in)
    -3 Add 0.03 mm (0.0012 in)
    -2 Add 0.02 mm (0.0008 in)
    -1 Add 0.01 mm (0.0004 in)
    0 Use the selected washer thickness
    +1 Subtract 0.01 mm (0.0004 in)
    +2 Subtract 0.02 mm (0.0008 in)
    +3 Subtract 0.03 mm (0.0012 in)
    +4 Subtract 0.04 mm (0.0016 in)
    +5 Subtract 0.05 mm (0.0020 in)
    +6 Subtract 0.06 mm (0.0024 in)
  12. Select the correct pinion height adjusting washer. Refer to "PINION HEIGHT ADJUSTING WASHER ".
  13. Remove the J-34309 differential shim selector tool from the final drive housing. Then disassemble to retrieve the pinion bearings.
    Fig 12: Removing J-34309 Differential Shim Selector Tool From Final Drive Housing
    G04204521Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.