Ring And Pinion Pattern

When the pinion is too far in towards the ring gear the pattern is low toward the base of the gear teeth.

Ring and pinion pattern.

The images below illustrate both acceptable and unacceptable ring and pinion gear patterns. Ring and pinion gear pattern is one of the most valuable tools for determining if a differential is properly set up. Moving the ring gear away from the pinion increases backlash and causes the pattern to move out toward the heel of the ring gear. Proper ring gear to pinion gear contact pattern is critical for quiet and trouble free gear set operation.

Load the ring gear and run a full contact pattern check. Use gear marking compound to paint all of the ring gear teeth. This pattern indicates excessive pinion depth. Move the ring gear closer to the pinion decrease backlash while maintaining minimum backlash.

Toe contact pattern is concentrated off the toe end of the drive gear tooth. Ring gear and pinion tooth pattern interpretation when setting the pinion position many of the service manuals required a final pinion position check by using gauges that verified the dimension from the center line of the differential carrier center line of ring gear to the face of the pinion button.