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Home >> Infiniti >> 2013 >> M56 Base >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 16 (Front Final Drive) >> Unit Disassembly And Assembly >> Front Final Drive >> Disassembly and Assembly >> Adjusting And Selecting Washers >> Drive Pinion Height
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Drive Pinion Height

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 Nissan Xterra. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
  1. Make sure all parts are clean and that the bearings are well lubricated.
  2. Assemble the drive pinion bearings onto the Tool.

    Tool number: - (J-34309) 

    Fig 1: Identifying Drive Pinion Tool
    G08711166Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    • Drive pinion front bearing;  make sure the J-34309-3 drive pinion front bearing seat is secured tightly against the J-34309-2 gauge anvil. Then turn the J-34309-7 drive pinion front bearing pilot to secure the drive pinon front bearing in its proper position.
    • Drive pinion rear bearing;  the J-34309-8 drive pinion rear bearing pilot is used to center the drive pinion rear bearing only. The J-34309-4 drive pinion rear bearing locking seat is used to lock the drive pinion rear bearing to the assembly.
    • Installation of J-34309-9 and J-34309-16;  place a suitable 2.5 mm (0.098 in) thick plain washer between J-34309-9 and J-34309-16. Both surfaces of J-34309-9 and J-34309-16 must be parallel with a clearance of 2.5 mm (0.098 in).
      Fig 2: Identifying Drive Pinion Front And Rear Bearing On Tool
      G08711167Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
  3. Install the drive pinion rear bearing inner race into the gear carrier. Then insert the drive pinion height adjusting washer selector tool, J-34309-1, gauge screw assembly.
    Fig 3: Installing Drive Pinion Rear Bearing Inner Race Into Gear Carrier
    G08711168Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
  4. Assemble the drive pinion front bearing inner race and the J-34309-2 gauge anvil. Assemble them together with the J-34309-1 gauge screw in the gear carrier. Make sure that the drive pinion height gauge plate, J-34309-16, will turn a full 360°. Tighten the two sections together by hand.
    Fig 4: Assembling Drive Pinion Front Bearing Inner Race
    G08711169Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
  5. Turn the assembly several times to seat the drive pinon bearings.
    Fig 5: Seating Drive Pinon Bearings
    G08711170Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
  6. Measure the turning torque at the end of the J-34309-2 gauge anvil using Tool.

    Tool number: ST3127S000 (J-25765-A) 

    Turning torque specification: 

    1.0 - 1.6 N.m (0.11 - 0.16 kg-m, 9 - 14 in-lb) 

    Fig 6: Measuring Turning Torque At End Of J-34309-2 Gauge Anvil
    G08711171Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
  7. Place the J-34309-10 "R180A" drive pinion height adapter onto the gauge plate and tighten it by hand.
    CAUTION: Make sure all machined surfaces are clean.
    Fig 7: Identifying Pinion Height Adapter
    G08711172Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
  8. Position the side bearing discs, Tool, and arbor firmly into the side bearing bores. Install the side bearing caps and tighten the side bearing cap bolts to the specified torque. Refer to "DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY ".

    Tool number: - (J-25269-18) 

    Fig 8: Identifying Side Bearing Discs
    G08711173Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
  9. Select the correct standard drive pinion height adjusting washer thickness. Select by using a standard gauge of 3 mm (0.12 in) and your J-34309-101 feeler gauge. Measure the distance between the J-34309-10 drive pinion height adapter, including the standard gauge and the arbor.
    Fig 9: Measuring Distance Between J-34309-10 Drive Pinion Height Adapter
    G08711174Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
  10. Write down the exact measurement (the value of feeler gauge).
    Fig 10: Writing Down Exact Measurement (Value Of Feeler Gauge)
    G08711175Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
  11. Correct the drive pinion height adjusting washer size by referring to the drive pinion "head number".

    There are two numbers painted on the drive pinion. The first one refers to the drive pinion and drive gear as a matched set. This number should be the same as the number on the drive gear. The second number is the drive pinion "head number". It refers to the ideal drive pinion height from standard for quietest operation. Use the following chart to determine the correct drive pinion height adjusting washer. 

    Fig 11: Identifying Drive Pinion Head Number
    G08711176Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Head number Add or remove from the standard drive pinion height adjusting washer thickness measurement
    - 6 Add 0.06 mm (0.0024 in)
    - 5 Add 0.05 mm (0.0020 in)
    - 4 Add 0.04 mm (0.0016 in)
    - 3 Add 0.03 mm (0.0012 in)
    - 2 Add 0.02 mm (0.0008 in)
    - 1 Add 0.01 mm (0.0004 in)
    0 Use the selected washer thickness
    +1 Subtract 0.01 mm (0.0004 in)
    +2 Subtract 0.02 mm (0.0008 in)
    +3 Subtract 0.03 mm (0.0012 in)
    +4 Subtract 0.04 mm (0.0016 in)
    +5 Subtract 0.05 mm (0.0020 in)
    +6 Subtract 0.06 mm (0.0024 in)
  12. Select the correct drive pinion height adjusting washer. Refer to "INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT ".
  13. Remove the Tool from the gear carrier and disassemble to retrieve the drive pinion bearings.

    Tool number: - (J-34309) 

    Fig 12: Removing Tool From Gear Carrier
    G08711177Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
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