Final Drive Housing

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Press-fit front and rear bearing outer races with Tools.
Tool number:

A ST30611000 (J25742-1)

B ST30621000 (J25742-5)

C ST30613000 (J25742-3)

Fig 1: Pressing-Fit Front And Rear Bearing Outer Races With Tools
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Select drive pinion height adjusting washer and pinion bearing adjusting washer. Refer to PINION GEAR HEIGHT AND PINION BEARING PRELOAD .
Install drive pinion height adjusting washer in drive pinion, and press-fit pinion rear bearing inner cone in it, using press and Tool.
Tool number:

ST30901000 (J26010-01)

Fig 2: Installing Drive Pinion Height Adjusting Washer In Drive Pinion
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Place pinion front bearing inner cone in final drive housing.

Fig 3: Placing Pinion Front Bearing Inner Cone In Final Drive Housing
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Apply multi-purpose grease to cavity at sealing lips of oil seal. Install front oil seal.
Tool number:

KV38100500 (J25273)

Fig 4: Installing Front Oil Seal
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Place drive pinion bearing spacer, drive pinion bearing adjusting washer and drive pinion in final drive housing.

Fig 5: Placing Drive Pinion Bearing Spacer, Drive Pinion Bearing Adjusting Washer
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Insert companion flange into drive pinion by tapping the companion flange with a soft hammer.

Fig 6: Tapping Companion Flange With Soft Hammer
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Tighten pinion nut to the specified torque.
The threaded portion of drive pinion and pinion nut should be free from oil or grease.

Tool number: KV38108300 (J44195)

Fig 7: Tightening Pinion Nut
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Turn drive pinion in both directions several revolutions, and measure pinion bearing preload.
Tool number: ST3127S000 (J25765-A)

Pinion bearing preload:

1.1 - 1.4 N.m (11 - 14 kg-cm, 9.5 - 12.2 in-lb)

When pinion bearing preload is outside the specifications, replace pinion bearing adjusting washer and spacer with a different thickness.

Fig 8: Measuring Pinion Bearing Preload
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Select side bearing adjusting washer.
Refer to SIDE BEARING PRELOAD
Install differential case assembly with side bearing outer races into final drive housing.

Fig 9: Installing Differential Case Assembly With Side Bearing Outer Races
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Insert left and right side bearing adjusting washers in place between side bearings and final drive housing.

Fig 10: Inserting Left And Right Side Bearing Adjusting Washers
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Drive in side bearing spacer with Tool.
Tool number: KV38100600 (J25267)

Fig 11: Driving In Side Bearing Spacer With Tool
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Align mark on bearing cap with that on final drive housing and install bearing cap on final drive housing.

Fig 12: Aligning Mark On Bearing Cap With On Final Drive Housing
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Apply multi-purpose grease to cavity at sealing lips of oil seal. Install side oil seal.
Tool number: KV38100200 (J26233)

Fig 13: Installing Side Oil Seal
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Measure ring gear to drive pinion backlash with a dial indicator.
Ring gear-to-drive pinion backlash:

0.10 - 0.15 mm (0.0039 - 0.0059 in)
- If backlash is too small, decrease thickness of right shim and increase thickness of left shim by the same amount.
  If backlash is too great, reverse the above procedure.
  
  Never change the total amount of shims as it will change the bearing preload.
  
  Fig 14: Measuring Ring Gear To Drive Pinion Backlash With Dial Indicator
  Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Check total preload with Tool.
When checking preload, turn drive pinion in both directions several times to set bearing rollers.

Tool number: ST3127S000 (J25765-A)

Total preload:

P ¹ + [0.3 - 1.5 N.m (3 - 15 kg-cm, 2.6 - 13.0 in-lb)]

P ¹ = Drive pinion preload

Fig 15: Checking Total Preload With Tool
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
- If preload is too great, remove the same amount of shim from each side.
- If preload is too small, add the same amount of shim to each side.
  Never add or remove a different number of shims for each side as it will change ring gear to drive pinion backlash.
Recheck ring gear to drive pinion backlash because increase or decrease in thickness of shims will cause change of ring gear-to-pinion backlash.

Fig 16: Identifying Shims
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Check runout of ring gear with a dial indicator.
Runout limit:

0.05 mm (0.0020 in)
- If backlash varies excessively in different places, the variance may have resulted from foreign matter caught between the ring gear and the differential case.
- If the backlash varies greatly when the runout of the ring gear is within a specified range, the hypoid gear set or differential case should be replaced.
Check tooth contact. Refer to TOOTH CONTACT
Install rear cover and gasket.

Fig 17: Checking Runout Of Ring Gear With Dial Indicator
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
Install differential side shaft assembly.

Fig 18: Installing Differential Side Shaft Assembly
Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.