Cherokee 4WD L6-4.0L VIN S (1998)
Differential Side Play Measurement
7. Thread guide stud C-3288-B into rear cover bolt hole below ring gear.
8. Attach dial indicator C-3339 to guide stud. Position the dial indicator plunger on a flat surface on a ring gear bolt head.
9. Push firmly and hold differential case to pinion gear side of axle housing.
10. Zero dial indicator face to pointer.
11. Push firmly and hold differential case to ring gear side of the axle housing.
12. Record dial indicator reading.
13. Add the dial indicator reading to the starting point shim thickness to determine total shim thickness to achieve zero differential end play.
14. Add 0.008 inch (0.2 mm) to the zero end play total. This new total represents the thickness of shims to compress, or preload the new bearings
when the differential is installed.
15. Rotate dial indicator out of the way on guide stud.
16. Remove differential case, dummy bearings, and starting point shims from axle housing.
17. Install pinion gear in axle housing. Install the yoke and establish the correct pinion rotating torque.
18. Install differential case and dummy bearings in axle housing (without shims) and tighten retaining cap bolts.
19. Position the dial indicator plunger on a flat surface between the ring gear bolt heads.
20. Push and hold differential case toward pinion gear.
21. Zero dial indicator face to pointer.
22. Push and hold differential case to ring gear side of the axle housing.
23. Record dial indicator reading.
24. Subtract 0.002 inch (0.05 mm) from the dial indicator reading to compensate for backlash between ring and pinion gears. This total is the
thickness of shim required to achieve proper backlash.
25. Subtract the backlash shim thickness from the total preload shim thickness. The remainder is the shim thickness required on the pinion side of the
axle housing.
26. Rotate dial indicator out of the way on guide stud.
27. Remove differential case and dummy bearings from axle housing.
28. Install new side bearing cones and cups on differential case.
29. Install spreader W-129-B, utilizing some components of Adapter Set 6987, on axle housing and spread axle opening enough to receive differential
case.
30. Place side bearing shims in axle housing against axle tubes.
31. Install differential case in axle housing.
32. Rotate the differential case several times to seat the side bearings.
