Testing Procedure
- Wipe clean the differential case, the ring gear and the axle housing of lubricant. Carefully clean each tooth of the ring gear.
- Use a medium stiff brush in order to sparingly apply gear marking compound, GM P/N 1052351 (Canadian P/N 10953497) or equivalent, to all of the ring gear teeth.
- Torque the bearing caps bolts to specification.
Important: Performing a test without loading the gears will not produce a satisfactory pattern.
- Apply the park brake until a torque load of 14 N.m (10 lb ft) is required in order to turn the pinion.
Important: Avoid turning the ring gear excessively.
- Using a wrench, turn the drive pinion flange/yoke so that the ring gear rotates 3 full revolutions.
- Turn the drive pinion flange/yoke in the opposite direction so that the ring gear rotates 3 full revolutions in the opposite direction.
- Observe the pattern on the ring gear teeth. Compare the pattern with the following illustrations.