Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Differential Assembly: Overhaul: Reassembly
2004 Acura 3.5RLSECTION Reassembly
- Install ring gear. Install and tighten ring gear bolts to specification in a crisscross pattern. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . Using press, install differential carrier bearings on differential carrier (if removed).
- If installing bearing races for drive pinion in differential case, install thrust washer in differential case. Thrust washer is located behind bearing race in the differential case. See Figure.
- Install bearing races. See Fig 1. Install drive pinion bearing races in differential case starting with outer bearing race (lock nut side) and then inner bearing race.
- If installing bearing races for differential carrier bearings, install NEW thrust shim(s) in differential case or differential case cover. Ensure thrust shim is the same thickness as thrust shim that was removed. Using hammer and bearing race installer, drive bearing race into differential case and differential case cover.
- If original drive pinion and ring gear are being installed, install original thickness drive pinion thrust shim on drive pinion (if removed). If NEW drive pinion and ring gear are being installed, proper thickness drive pinion thrust shim must be determined to obtain correct drive pinion height. See DRIVE PINION HEIGHT under ADJUSTMENTS.
- If installing pinion bearing on drive pinion, use press, old pinion spacer and bearing installer to press pinion bearing onto drive pinion. Lubricate all pinion bearings and threads on drive pinion with oil.
- Install drive pinion in differential case. DO NOT install pinion spacer and thrust washers at this time. Install pinion bearing on drive pinion.
- Using hammer and bearing installer, drive outer pinion bearing onto drive pinion while supporting drive pinion. Install thrust washer, drive pinion hub, thrust washer and lock nut.
- Tighten lock nut to 15 ft. lbs. (20 N.m). DO NOT overtighten lock nut or pinion bearings may be damaged, as pinion spacer and thrust washers are not installed.
- Clean drive pinion and ring teeth and coat with Prussian Blue. Lubricate differential carrier bearings with oil.
- Install differential carrier into differential case. Install differential case cover. Install and tighten differential case cover bolts in a crisscross pattern to 33 ft. lbs. (45 N.m).
- Install Wrench (07HAA-SF10100) in differential assembly. See Figure. Rotate ring gear on full revolution in both directions while applying resistance on drive pinion.
- Remove differential cover and inspect ring gear tooth contact pattern. Correct gear tooth contact should be centered on ring gear. See GEAR TOOTH CONTACT PATTERNS article in GENERAL INFORMATION.
- If gear tooth contact pattern is incorrect, drive pinion height must be changed to correct gear tooth contact pattern. Change drive pinion thrust shim located below bearing on drive pinion to adjust drive pinion height. See DRIVE PINION HEIGHT under ADJUSTMENTS.
- If gear tooth contact pattern is correct, remove components from drive pinion for installation of pinion spacer. Install NEW pinion spacer and thrust washers on drive pinion.
- Install outer pinion bearing on drive pinion. Using hammer and bearing installer, drive outer pinion bearing onto drive pinion while supporting drive pinion.
- Install thrust washer, drive pinion hub, thrust washer and NEW lock nut on drive pinion. Check pinion bearing preload. See PINION BEARING PRELOAD under ADJUSTMENTS.
- Once correct pinion bearing preload is obtained, stake lock nut against drive pinion. Clean drive pinion and ring gear teeth and coat with Prussian Blue. Lubricate differential carrier bearings with oil.
- Install differential carrier into differential case. Install differential case cover. Install and tighten differential case cover bolts in a crisscross pattern to 33 ft. lbs. (45 N.m).
- Check total bearing preload. See TOTAL BEARING PRELOAD under ADJUSTMENTS. Once correct total bearing preload is correct, check ring gear backlash. See RING GEAR BACKLASH under ADJUSTMENTS.
- Once correct ring gear backlash is obtained, remove differential case cover and differential assembly. Check gear tooth contact pattern. Correct gear tooth contact should be centered on the ring gear. See GEAR TOOTH CONTACT PATTERNS article in GENERAL INFORMATION.
- Install breather plate on differential case cover (if removed). Install breather plate bolts and tighten to specification. Stake heads of breather plate bolts against differential case cover.
- Install oil guide pipe. Tighten oil guide pipe bolt to specification.
- Install differential carrier assembly. Apply Liquid Gasket (08718-0001) on sealing surface of differential case cover. Install differential case cover. Install and tighten bolts to specification in a crisscross pattern. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .
- Using hammer and oil seal installer, install NEW oil seal in differential case cover. Using hammer and oil seal installer, install NEW oil seal for drive pinion.
- Drive pinion oil seal must be installed with seal below surface of differential case .61-.63" (15.5-16.0 mm). See Fig 2.
RENDER: 1.0x
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.