Ring and Pinion

This procedure covers removal and replacement of the ring and pinion gears in the rear differential of a 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with RWD, including bearing preload setup and backlash adjustment.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Ring and pinion gear set (verify ratio) × 1 — Match to existing ratio or desired change
• Pinion seal × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Pinion bearing set (inner and outer) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Carrier bearing set × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Differential cover gasket or RTV sealant × 1 — GM 12378521 or equivalent
• Pinion crush sleeve × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Pinion shim kit × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Carrier shim kit × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Gear oil additive (if equipped with limited slip) × 1 — GM 88900330

Fluids

• ACDelco 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Oil — 2.5 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
3. Raise rear of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at frame rails
4. Remove rear wheels
5. Mark driveshaft flange and pinion flange relationship for reinstallation alignment
6. Place drain pan under differential cover

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove driveshaft
   Remove the four driveshaft bolts at the pinion flange. Support driveshaft and slide rearward to separate from pinion flange. Secure driveshaft out of the way or remove completely from vehicle.
   Torque spec

   Driveshaft Bolts94 Nm (69 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Drain differential and remove cover
   Remove all differential cover bolts and carefully pry cover away from housing using gasket scraper. Allow all gear oil to drain into pan. Clean cover and housing mating surfaces thoroughly, removing all old gasket material or RTV.
   ⚠Gear oil may be hot if vehicle was recently driven. Avoid skin contact with used gear oil.
   Torque spec

   Differential Cover Bolts35 Nm (26 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Mark and remove carrier bearing caps
   Mark carrier bearing caps and housing for proper reinstallation orientation. Remove carrier bearing cap bolts and caps. Note the shim thickness on each side and keep with respective bearing cap for reference.
4. 4

   Remove carrier assembly
   Carefully lift carrier assembly with ring gear attached out of the housing. If tight, use case spreader tool per manufacturer instructions (do not spread more than 0.015 inches). Place carrier assembly on clean work surface.
5. 5

   Remove pinion nut and flange
   Using pinion holding tool to prevent rotation, remove pinion nut. Mark pinion shaft depth position relative to housing for reference. Use appropriate puller to remove pinion flange. Count and record number of threads exposed beyond pinion nut before removal.
   ℹ️Pinion nut and crush sleeve cannot be reused. Do not attempt to reuse these components.
6. 6

   Remove pinion assembly
   Tap pinion shaft out from rear of housing using soft-faced mallet. Remove pinion seal, crush sleeve, outer bearing, and inner bearing race. Remove inner bearing and race from housing using appropriate puller. Keep all components organized to determine shim requirements.
7. 7

   Remove old ring gear from carrier
   If reusing carrier, mark one ring gear bolt location. Remove all ring gear bolts and separate ring gear from carrier. Press or drive carrier bearings off carrier assembly using appropriate bearing puller.
8. 8

   Clean and inspect components
   Thoroughly clean carrier, housing, and all machined surfaces. Inspect carrier and housing for cracks, scoring, or damage. Inspect splines and bearing surfaces. Replace any damaged components. Clean all old gear marking compound from surfaces.
9. 9

   Install new pinion bearings and determine pinion depth
   Press new inner and outer pinion bearing races into housing. Install pinion depth setting gauge per tool manufacturer instructions. Measure required pinion depth using gauge and micrometer. Select appropriate pinion shim based on measurements and markings on new pinion head. Install shim on pinion shaft followed by inner bearing.
   ℹ️New ring and pinion sets have variance markings etched on gear face. These must be factored into pinion depth calculation.
10. 10

    Install pinion assembly
    Install pinion with shim and inner bearing into housing. Install outer bearing, new crush sleeve, pinion flange, and new pinion nut. Using pinion holding tool, tighten pinion nut gradually while checking pinion bearing preload with inch-pound torque wrench. Target preload is 15-25 inch-pounds for new bearings. Stop when preload is achieved.
    ⚠If pinion nut is over-tightened, crush sleeve must be replaced and process restarted. Tighten incrementally and check preload frequently.
11. 11

    Install ring gear on carrier
    Heat new ring gear to approximately 200°F to ease installation if needed. Align ring gear on carrier, ensuring proper orientation. Install all ring gear bolts with thread locking compound and tighten in star pattern to manufacturer specification. Verify ring gear runs true with no wobble.
12. 12

    Install carrier bearings and determine shim thickness
    Press new carrier bearings onto carrier assembly. Install carrier with bearings into housing without shims to measure required shim thickness. Use feeler gauges to measure gap between bearing and housing on both sides. Calculate required shim thickness to achieve 0.006-0.010 inch preload plus gear backlash clearance.
13. 13

    Set gear backlash
    Install calculated shims and reinstall carrier assembly with bearing caps in original orientation. Torque bearing cap bolts to specification. Mount dial indicator on housing with plunger contacting ring gear tooth at 90 degrees to rotation. Rock ring gear and measure backlash at four points around gear. Target backlash is 0.005-0.009 inch. Adjust by moving shims from one side to other (moving shims from ring gear side increases backlash).
14. 14

    Check gear tooth contact pattern
    Apply thin coating of gear marking compound to several ring gear teeth. Rotate pinion through several complete revolutions in both directions while applying light drag on ring gear. Examine contact pattern on drive and coast sides of teeth. Pattern should be centered on tooth face. Adjust pinion depth or backlash as needed to achieve proper pattern.
    ℹ️Proper tooth contact pattern is critical for gear life. Toe contact indicates pinion too deep, heel contact indicates pinion too shallow.
15. 15

    Final assembly and fill
    Once proper backlash and contact pattern are achieved, torque all carrier bearing cap bolts to final specification. Install new differential cover gasket or apply RTV sealant in continuous bead. Install cover and torque bolts in criss-cross pattern. Fill differential with ACDelco 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Oil to bottom of fill hole (approximately 2.0-2.5 quarts). Add limited slip additive if equipped. Install fill plug. Reinstall driveshaft aligning marks made during removal.
    Torque spec

    Differential Cover Bolts35 Nm (26 lb-ft)

    Driveshaft Bolts94 Nm (69 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Install rear wheels and torque lug nuts in star pattern
2. Lower vehicle to ground
3. Test drive vehicle at low speeds initially, checking for abnormal noise or vibration
4. Recheck differential fluid level after test drive and top off if needed
5. Monitor for leaks at pinion seal and cover gasket for first 100 miles

Verification

• No fluid leaks present at differential cover or pinion seal
• No abnormal noise during acceleration, deceleration, or coasting
• Smooth operation with no vibration through full speed range
• Gear oil level correct at fill plug hole
• Proper speedometer operation (if gear ratio unchanged) or recalibration completed (if ratio changed)
• Backlash measurement remains within 0.005-0.009 inch specification after test drive

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