Inspection

1. If necessary to replace side bearings, remove using a suitable puller, then install new bearings using a suitable press.
2. If necessary to replace ring gear, loosen staked portion of lock plate, then place alignment marks on ring gear and case. Remove eight bolts and locking plates. Remove ring gear using a suitable copper mallet. Clean contact surface of differential case, then heat ring gear to approximately 212 degrees F. in a suitable oil bath. Clean contact surface of ring gear using a suitable solvent, then quickly install ring gear on differential case. Align marks on ring gear with marks on differential case, then install new locking plates and set bolts. Uniformly torque set bolts to 71 ft. lbs. Stake locking plates.
3. Stand ring gear up, then measure side gear backlash on one side while holding pinion toward case. Backlash should be .0020-.0079 inch.
4. Drive out pinion shaft lock pin from ring gear side, then remove pinion shaft from case. Remove two pinion gears and side gears with four thrust washers in differential from case.

Fig. 14 Side gear thrust washer selective chart. MR2:

5. Install removed thrust washers, side gears and pinion gears into differential case, then insert drive pinion shaft. Check side gear backlash. Backlash should be .0020-.0079 inch. If backlash is not as specified, select a suitable thrust washer from chart, Fig. 14, to bring backlash to within specifications. Insert lock pin through case and pinion shaft, then stake to case.