Ring And Pinion Setup Patterns

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.

Ring and pinion setup patterns.

The images below illustrate both acceptable and unacceptable ring and pinion gear patterns. Low contact pattern is concentrated in the root of the drive gear tooth. Move the pinion out away from the differential carrier subtract pinion shim. On the other hand if the contact pattern is on the outer edge of the teeth you need to install a larger shim image on right above.

When setting up a ring pinion there are four critical settings that need to be correct in order to get proper setup and good gear life. Moving the ring gear away from the pinion increases backlash and causes the pattern to move out toward the heel of the ring gear. When the pinion is too far in towards the ring gear the pattern is low toward the base of the gear teeth. Adding shims on the ring gear s smooth side of the carrier moves the ring gear closer to the pinion causing the teeth to mesh tighter decreasing the amount the backlash.

This pattern indicates excessive pinion depth. This is adjusted by adding or subtracting shims to the inner pinion bearing. If the contact pattern is more towards the carrier you need to take everything apart and install a smaller shim image on left above. For more in depth information about ring and pinion gear patterns and how.

Ring and pinion gear pattern is one of the most valuable tools for determining if a differential is properly set up. Pinion depth the distance from the face of the pinion gear to the centerline of the ring gear. Once pinion depth has been set a final backlash setting can be achieved by adjusting the location of the differential and ring gear. Pinion depth how close the pinion is to the ring gear backlash how close the ring gear is to the pinion pinion bearing preload how much bearing drag is on the pinion bearings and carrier.

The ring gear is too far in toward the pinion. Begin by setting proper pinion bearing preload total turning preload and ring gear backlash. Setting pinion depth step 1. Move the pinion deeper in towards the differential carrier add pinion shim.

Use gear marking compound to paint all of the ring gear. Ring gear contact pattern interpretation of face hobbed uniform tooth depth gear teeth proper ring gear to pinion gear contact pattern is critical for quiet and trouble free gear set operation. Ring gear and pinion tooth pattern interpretation.