Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra. Manual

3. Place the contact pad of the J 8001-3 on one of the teeth of the pinion gear closest to

the pinion shaft lock bolt. See Special Tools.

Turn the dial of the J 8001-3 until the needle and the dial face indicate ZERO. See
Special Tools.

4. Tighten the lock nut of the J 8001-3 finger tight. See Special Tools.

5. Pull the pinion gear firmly into the differential case seat.

6. Rotate the pinion gear back and forth.

7. Measure the backlash.

Specification: The backlash between the differential pinion gears and the locking
differential side gear cam unit should be 0.279-0.432 mm (0.011-0.017 in).

9. If the backlash is too large, install a thicker locking differential clutch disc thrust washer

and recheck the backlash.

10. If the backlash is too small, install a thinner locking deferential clutch disc thrust washer and

recheck the backlash.

Locking differential clutch disc thrust washers are available in the following sizes:

Washer Sizes:

0.559 mm (0.022 in)

0.686 mm (0.027 in)

0.813 mm (0.032 in)

0.914 mm (0.036 in)

1.016 mm (0.040 in)

1.118 mm (0.044 in)

1.219 mm (0.048 in)

1.321 mm (0.052 in)

Right Side Gear Backlash Adjustment

1. If necessary, remove the following from the differential case:

1. The pinion lock shaft bolt

2. The pinion shaft

3. The differential pinion gears

2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

2008 Driveline/Axle Rear Drive Axle - Cab & Chassis Sierra, Cab & Chassis Silverado, Sierra & Silverado

4. The differential pinion gear thrust washers

5. The locking differential side gear cam unit and clutch disc assembly

2. Install the right side differential side gear shim into the bell-end of the differential case.

3. Install the clutch disc assembly into the differential case.

4. Install the locking differential side gear.

5. Install the differential pinion gears with the differential pinion thrust washers into the

differential case.

Align the openings of the differential pinion gears and the differential pinion thrust washer
to the pinion shaft opening in the differential case.

6. Press down on the locking differential side gear and install the pinion shaft.

If the side gear cannot be pressed down far enough to install the pinion shaft, replace the
differential side gear shim with a thinner shim.

7. Install the pinion shaft lock bolt.

Tighten: Tighten the pinion shaft lock bolt finger tight.

8. Rotate the differential pinion gear so that one of the teeth is pointing downward,

perpendicular to the ring gear flange.

2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

2008 Driveline/Axle Rear Drive Axle - Cab & Chassis Sierra, Cab & Chassis Silverado, Sierra & Silverado

Fig. 295: Installing Brass Drift Between Locking Differential Side Gear & Pinion
Shaft
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

9. Install a brass drift between the differential side gear and the pinion shaft.

Press the brass drift in enough in order to compress the clutch discs.

2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

2008 Driveline/Axle Rear Drive Axle - Cab & Chassis Sierra, Cab & Chassis Silverado, Sierra & Silverado

Fig. 296: Measuring Backlash Of Differential Pinion Gear & Side Gear
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

10. Measure the backlash of the differential pinion gear and the locking differential side gear by

doing the following:

1. Install the J 7872 (1) to the ring gear flange. See Special Tools.

2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

2008 Driveline/Axle Rear Drive Axle - Cab & Chassis Sierra, Cab & Chassis Silverado, Sierra & Silverado

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Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra. Manual - part 1495