Online Guide and Manuals

Differential gear carrier assembly has a hypoid type pinion and ring gear set. The gear carrier is constructed of cast iron. The drive pinion is mounted in two tapered roller bearings that are preloaded by a collapsible spacer or by non-adjustable spacer. Drive pinion is aligned into position with a shim located between shoulder on drive pinion and rear bearing. Differential case is supported in carrier by two tapered roller side bearings. The side bearings are preloaded by inserting shims between bearings and differential. Case housed two side bears that mesh with two pinion gears mounted on a pinion shaft. The pinion shaft is held in case with a lock pin. Pinions and side gears are set in front of thrust washers.

Datsun does not identify rear axle with a particular outside identification marking. However all models are some basic type of removable carrier rear axle. It should be noted that part or model numbers may vary between vehicle models, but the internal design is similar. The following table indicates the axle ratios that are available, any not found in table may be computed by dividing number of ring gear teeth by number of pinion gear teeth.

                  Rear Axle Ratio

B210

   1974............................... 3.900

610

   1973................................3.889

620

   1972-74.

      Man. Trans................4.375

      Auto. Trans...............4.625

710

   1974

      Man. Trans................4.111

      Auto. Trans...............3.889

1200

   1971-73..........................3.900

Removal 311, 521 and 620 - Raise vehicle and place an safety stands, remove rear wheels. Disconnect and plug wheel cylinder inlet line, remove brake drum. If drum is hard to pull off, lightly tap outside of casting to free or back off shoe adjuster(s). Remove four brake assembly retaining nuts. Pull out axle shaft and brake assembly using slide hammer.

Inspection - Using a dial indicator, check axle shaft deflection, maximum allowable bending is .039" (1.0 mm). Replace axle shaft or components if any of the following conditions exist seal surface and/or thrust block side end surface scared; bearing rust, rough rolling or chipped; oil seal cracked or otherwisde damaged.

Disassembly - Place axle in suitable work stand and bend lock washer tabs away from nut. Remove lock nut, then using axle shaft bearing puller, withdraw wheel bearing with cage and brake assembly. If necessary, remove oil seal from inside bearing cage. With a brass drift and hammer top against bearing race surface until race is removed.

Reassembly - Fit bearing race and rubber grease seal to cage by carefully seating with brass hammer. After seal installation, fill up with grease. Install brake assembly and bearing cage on axle, then fit bearing race using a brass drift. Press in new bearing then tighten lock nut and bend up lock tabs.

REMOVING LOCK NUT (620 MODEL SHOWN)

Installation - Apply wheel bearing grease in races of axle case end. Install axle shaft after first replacing oil seal in axle housing. Ensure seal is not damaged using installation. Adjust axial end play using proper shim pack. To complete installation, reverse removal procedure. NOTE - Adjustment is .012-.035" (.30-90 mm) on one side (either side) and .001-.006" (.02-.15 mm) on the other (opposite) side.

Removal B210, 510, 610, 710 and 1200 - Raise rear of vehicle and support on safety stands, remove rear wheels. Disconnect wheel cylinder inlet line and plug opening. Disconnect parkign brake linkage and move out-of-way. Remove brake drum and four nuts mounting brake book plate to axle case. Using suitable puller, remove axle shaft assembly. Remove oil seal and replace at this time.

CLEARANCE BETWEEN WHEEL BEARING AND AXLE TUBE

Inspection - Check following components and replace any found defective. Inspect axle shaft deflection, oil seal tip, and bearing.

Disassembly - Place axle shaft assembly into suitable holding device and chisel off wheel bearing collar; then remove wheel bearing.

Reassembly - Install bearing spacer, bearing and new bearing collar onto axle shaft. Bearing collar must be installed under 3-5 tons foce.

Installation - Fit axle shaft into axle housing being careful not to damage oil seal. Adjust clearance between wheel bearing and axle tube and using  .039" (1.0 mm) shim as shown in illustration. Measure axial end play with a dial indicator, reading should be .018" (.45 mm). Reverse removal procedure for remaining components

NOTE - The following procdure can only be performed on those models that use non-adjustable spacer (not collapsible spacer type).

Removal - Raise and support rear end of vehicle, then drain gear oil. Index mark propeller shaft and companion flange, then detach shaft and wire out-of-way. Remove drive pinion nut and using suitable puller extract companion flange. With special tool (ST33290001) remove oil seal.

Installation - Set new oil seal into position and pack grease between seal lips. Position companion flange and flat washer on drive pinion, then tighten nut and check bearing preload.

Removal - Raise and support vehicle on safety stands placed under rear axle housing. Drain gear lubricatn. Index mark propeller shaft and remove. Withdraw rear axle shafts as previously described. Remove nuts mounting differential gear carrier to axle housing and lift out gear carrier.

Installation - To install differential gear carrier, reverse removal procedure and tighten nuts.

Removal - Raise rear of vehicle and place on safety stands. Place a floor jack under center of axle housing. Remove rear wheels. Index mark propeller shaft and companion flange so components can be realigned in original position. Disconnect bolts mounting propeller shaft and carefully guide shaft from vehicle. Separate parking brake linkage at rear coupling and place forward out-of-way. Disconnect brake line rear union and plug opening. Disconnect shock absorbers at lower mount and compress until clear. Lower jack under axle housing and remove nuts and U-bolts securing leaf springs. With axle housing balanced on floor jack, carefully maneuver from vehicle.

Installation - To install axle housing, reverse removal procedure noting the following: Ensure propeller shaft index marks are properly aligned. Be sure U-bolts are not twisted over axle housing and that vehicle weight is on wheels when lower end of shock absorber is tightened.

NOTE - Prediassembly inspection of ring gear backlash and gear tooth contact can indicate where possible problems may be oriented. See Gear Tooth Contact at beginning of this section

1) With differential carrier mounted in suitable work stand, index mark side bearing caps and carrier. Remove bearing caps and lift out differential assembly. Remove drive pinion lock nut and pull companion flange off using a gear puller. Remove drive pinion together with rear bearing inner race, spacer and washer. Drive pinion can be freed by tapping front ed of assembly. If necessary, extract oil seal and withdraw front bearing inner race.

2) Using suitable puller (ST300310000) extract pinion. To take out both front and rear bearing outer races, use drift placed on race side surface and tap out. To disassemble differential gear case proceed as follows: Using a suitable puller (ST3305001) remove side bearings. Keep right and left side components separated for reassembly. Lift ring gear bolt lock tabs and remove bolts by loosening in a diagonal sequence. Using a punch, top out pinion gear lock pin and remove pinion gears, side gears and thrust washers. Identify gears and thrust washers for ireinstallation.

Thoroughly clean all disassembled parts and visually inspect for excessive wear. Check all gears for wear and replace when necessary. NOTE - Drive pinion and ring gear are replaced only as a set. Inspect thrust washer surfaces and be sure they are free from surface scratches.

ADJUSTING PINION HEIGHT

Case Assembly - Fit pinion and side gears and thrust washers in differential case. Assemble pinion shaft to differential case . Assemble pinion shaft to differential case so lock pin holes align with shaft. Inserting proper side gear thrust washers, obtain specified clearance between rear face of side gear and thrust washer. Insert pinion shaft lock pin and using a punch, secure into place. Lightly oil gear tooth areas and all thrust washers surfaces. then checkt that they are free to turn smoothly. Fit ring gear on differential case, tighten bolts diagonally , and bend over lock tabs. If side bearing is to be replaced, measure thickness of new ones using suitable tool set as shown in illustration. Normal bearing thickness should be as specified. Using suitable press, seat side bearing cone into differential case.

Drive Pinion Height - Pinion height is adjusted with drive pinion adjusting washer placed behind the drive pinion gear. Variation from the standard size ot the drive gear center is marked on drive pinino gear head. If tolerance is greater than standard size, number is marked in "+", if less than standard size, marking is "-". Install front and rear drive pinion outer races in gear carrier. Fit drive pinion adjusting washers and bearing on suitable dummy shaft. Position dummy shaft in final drive housing without drive pinion adjusting spacer, then pu on front pinion bearing and companion flange. Tighten drive pinion nut to specified preload setting. Fit suitable drive pinion height gauge on final drive housing and measur clearance between end of gauge and surface of dummy shaft as shown in illustration. To calculate thickness of needed drive pinion adjusting washer, use the following formula:

T = Thickness of needed shim.

W = Thickness of temporary shim.

N = Clearance between depth gauge and dummy shaft.

H = Figure stamped on drive pinion head.

NOTE - Formula values are expressed in millimeters.

Remove dummy shaft from gear carrier, take out pinion rear bearing from dummy shaft, select correct shims based on calculation and refit pinion rear bearing and drive pinion. Ensure face side of shims are toward back of pinion gear.

Drive Pinion Preload, Non-Collapsible Spacer Type - Adjustment of drive pinion preload is accomplished with spacer and washers placed between front and rear inner bearing races. NOTE - Adjustment must be performed without oil seal installed. Proceed with adjustment as follows:

Liberally lubricate pinion bearings and install in the following order; drive pinion, spacer, washer, front inner race, companion flange and flat washer. Tighten nut to specified torque. Rotate pinion by hand so pinion nut is not over tightened. Increase spacer and washer thickness when pinion will no longer turn. Using a suitable pinion bearing preload gauge, determine the correct washer and spacer needed to provide specified epreload. Spacers and washers are available in various sizes. Insert proper spacer and washer and again check preload. If preload is within specifications, remove drive pinion nut and companion flange, then press in a new oil seal. Install companion flange and tighten nut.

Drive Pinion Preload, Collapsible Spacer Type - After obtaining final pinion bearing height, lubricate front bearing and place into carrier. Fit new oil seal in carrier and fill space between seal lips with grease. Slip new collapsible spacer on drive pinion, then lubricate pinion rear bearing. Insert companion flange in oil seal while holding flange tightly against pinion bearing cone. Working from back of carrier, insert drive pinion into the companion flange. Ensure drive pinion threads and mounting nut are dirt free, then holding companion flange, tighten nut. This step will pull drive pinion front bearing cone and flange. When drive pinion is pulled into bearing cone bearing end play will be reduced. With end play still in evidence, companion flange will be felt bottoming on collapsible spacer. Slowly turn nut and continiously check end play to ensure bearing preload does not exceed specifications. When end play is eliminated final preload is being approached. Turn pinion in both direction to set bearing. Adjust bearing preload to specifications using suitable gauge (ST31275000).

NOTE - Never try to decrease bearing preload by backing off pinion nut; always replace collapsible spacer.

CALCULATING SIDE BEARING SHIM THICKNESS

Backlash and Side Bearin Preload - 1) Preload is adjusted with shims. Procedure is done after overhaul work has been completed on differential assembly. When assembling without changing side bearings, install shims of original thickness. If bearings are being replaced, use the following formula to determine the required thickness of adjusting shims:

T = Shim thickness.

B = Figure stamped on right side bearing.

C & D = Figure stamped on differential case (+ or 0 number).

E & F = Deviation from standard bearing thickness.

H' = Figure stamped on ring gear.

MEASURING DISTANCE BETWEEN BEARING CAPS

NOTE - Formula values are expressed in millimeters.

2) Side bearing thickness is measured using a suitable press (ST3250S0000) and applying approximately 5.5 lbs. (2.5 kg). Measure thickness in at least three locations.

3) Fit side bearing shim of differential case and press in both side bearing inner races. Place differential case assembly into gear carrier, then install bearing cap on carrier.

4) As a second check, measure distance between bearing caps using a micrometer (see illustration).. Specification obtained should be as indicated in table. Correct any deviation with the proper shim.

MEASURING RING GEAR BACKLASH

5) Using suitable dial indicator, measure ring gear-to-drive pinion  backlash. Measurement should be as indicated in specifications. If backlash is less than specified, decrease the thickness of left shim and increase right shim by some amount. If backlash is more than specified, reverse placement of shims in procedure above. Using same dial indicator check ring gear deflection, runout should be as specified.

6) Check side bearing preload by measuring amount of rotating torque needed to turn compoanion flange (see illustration). Check gear tooth contact pattern and correct any problem. NOTE - See Gear Tooth Contact Pattern at beginning of this section.

MEASURING DRIVE PINION PRELOAD