F 350 4WD Pickup V8-351 5.8L VIN H EFI (1997)
Pinion Gear: Testing and Inspection
Rear - Gear Tooth Contact Pattern Check
1. When rolling a tooth pattern, use a special marking compound (tube) to obtain gear tooth mesh contact pattern.
2. To check the gear tooth contact, paint the gear teeth with the special marking compound.
NOTE: A marking compound mixture that is too wet will run and smear; too dry a mixture cannot be pressed out from between the teeth.
3. Rotate ring gear (use a box wrench on the ring gear retaining bolts as a lever) several complete revolutions in both directions or until a clear tooth
contact pattern is obtained.
4. Certain types of gear tooth contact patterns on the ring gear indicate incorrect adjustment. Incorrect adjustment can be corrected by readjusting the
ring gear or the pinion.
5. The illustration shows acceptable tooth patterns for all axles. In general, desirable tooth patterns should have the following characteristics:
a. The drive pattern should be fairly well centered on the tooth.
b. The coast pattern should be fairly well centered on the teeth.
c. Some clearance between the pattern and the top of the tooth is desirable.
d. There should be no hard lines where the pressure is high.
