LEMON Manuals: Even more car manuals for everyone: 1960-2025
Home >> Nissan-Datsun >> 2002 >> Sentra SE-R, Standard >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 821 (Rear Final Drive) >> Rear Final Drive Assembly >> Disassembly And Assembly >> Assembly >> Installation Of Differential Assembly
April 5, 2026: LEMON Manuals is launched! Read the announcement.

Installation Of Differential Assembly

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Nissan Murano. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
  1. Assemble new side gear thrust washers with the same thickness as the ones installed prior to disassembly or reinstall the old ones on the side gears.
  2. Assemble the side gears, side gear thrust washers, pinion mate gears, and pinion mate thrust washers to the differential case, and temporarily assemble the pinion mate shaft.
  3. Measure the side gear end play following the procedure below, and select the appropriate side gear thrust washers.
    Fig 1: Part No And Thickness Specification Chart
    G01199778Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
    Fig 2: Measuring Clearance Between Side Gear Back And Differential Case Using Thickness Gauge
    G01199777Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
    • Using a thickness gauge, measure the clearance between side gear back and the differential case at 3 different points, while rotating the side gear. Average the 3 readings, and select the appropriate side gear thrust washer so that the mean value is within specifications below. (Measure the clearance of the other side as well.)

      Side gear end play standard: 

      0.2 mm (0.008 in) or less. Every gear shall rotate smoothly with no abnormal feeling of drag. 

    CAUTION:
    • Before measurement, place differential case straight up so that side gear to be measured comes upward. To prevent the side gear from tilting, insert thickness gauges with the same thickness from both sides.
    • Select a side gear thrust washer for right and left individually.
  4. Assemble the selected side gear thrust washer to the differential case.
  5. Using a pin punch, drive a lock pin into the pinion mating shaft.
    Fig 3: Inserting Lock Pin Into Pinion Mating Shaft Using Pin Punch
    G01199779Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.

    Tool number: ST23550000 ( - ) 

    CAUTION: Do not reuse the lock pin.
  6. Using a drift, press a side bearing inner race into the differential case.
    Fig 4: Pressing Side Bearing Inner Race Into Differential Case Using Drift
    G01199780Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.

    Tool number: KV40105020 ( - ) 

  7. Apply locking sealant onto the thread of the ring gear.
    CAUTION: The ring gear back, threaded holes, and ring gear bolts shall be cleaned and decreased sufficiently.
  8. Assemble the ring gear to the differential case, and tighten it with ring gear bolt.

    : 94 - 112 N.m (9.6 - 11kg-m, 70 - 82 ft-lb) 

  9. Apply differential oil to the side bearings, and assemble new side bearing adjusting shims (2 pieces for one side) with the same thickness as the ones installed prior to disassembly or re-install the old ones, with a side bearing outer race to the differential case.

    If the side bearing adjusting shims have been already selected, use them.

  10. Fit a drift to the right and left side bearing adjusting shims individually. Compress differential case assembly and side bearing to install the gear carrier assembly to differential case assembly.
    Fig 5: Compressing Differential Case Assembly And Side Bearing
    G01199781Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.

    Tool number: KV40100610 (J26089) 

    CAUTION:
    • A drift shall be placed on the center of the adjusting shims.
    • The pressure shall be as low as possible to install the gear carrier assembly into the differential assembly. The maximum pressure shall be 1 ton.
    • If the adjusting shims are installed by tapping, the gear carrier may be damaged. Avoid tapping.
  11. Install a dummy cover set, check and adjust the backlash, ring gear back runout, tooth contact, and overall preload torque. Refer to PRE-INSPECTION .
  12. Remove dummy cover set.
  13. Apply a continuous bead of sealant around the gear carrier mating surface on the rear cover as shown in the figure. Overlap both ends of the bead for at least 3 mm (0.12 in).
    CAUTION: Remove old sealant on the mounting surface, then remove any moisture, oil, and foreign material on the application and mounting surfaces.
    Fig 6: Applying Sealant Around Gear Carrier Mating Surfaces
    G01199782Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.
  14. Fit a drift to the right and left side bearing adjusting shims individually. Compress differential case assembly and side bearing to install the rear cover.
    Fig 7: Compressing Differential Case Assembly And Side Bearing Install Rear Cover
    G01199783Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.

    Tool number: KV40100610 (J26089) 

    CAUTION:
    • A drift shall be placed on the center of the adjusting shims.
    • The pressure shall be as low as possible to install the rear cover. The maximum pressure shall be 10 kN (1 ton, 1.1 US ton, 1.0 lmp ton)
    • If the rear cover is forced in by tapping, the rear cover may be damaged by the adjusting shims. Avoid tapping.
  15. Tighten rear cover mounting bolts to the specified torque.

    Tightening torque 

    M8-bolt: 14 - 17 N.m (1.5 - 1.7 kg-m, 11 - 12 ft-lb) 

    M10-bolt: 31 - 36 N.m (3.2 - 3.6 kg.m, 23 - 26 ft-lb) 

  16. Using a drift, drive the oil seal until it becomes flush with the case end.
    Fig 8: Inserting Oil Seal To Case End Using Drift
    G01199784Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.

    Tool number A: KV3810020000 (J26233) 

    B: ST27861000 ( - ) 

    CAUTION:
    • Do not reuse oil seals.
    • Apply multi-purpose grease onto the oil seal lips, and differential oil onto the circumference of the oil seal.
  17. Check overall preload torque. Refer to TOTAL PRELOAD .
scientia non olet · About LEMON Manuals