Nissan Pathfinder (2012 year). Manual - part 238

REAR FINAL DRIVE

DLN-469

< UNIT DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY >

[REAR FINAL DRIVE: R230]

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• If the tooth contact is near the face (face contact), or near the heel

(heel contact), use a thicker drive pinion height adjusting washers

to move the drive pinion closer to the drive gear.

Refer to 

DLN-483, "Inspection and Adjustment"

.

• If the tooth contact is near the flank (flank contact), or near the toe

(toe contact), use a thinner drive pinion height adjusting washers to

move the drive pinion farther from the drive gear.

Refer to 

DLN-483, "Inspection and Adjustment"

.

Backlash

1. Fit a dial indicator to the drive gear face to measure the back-

lash.

• If the backlash is outside of the specification, change the thickness

of the side bearing adjusting washers.

CAUTION:

Do not change the total thickness of side bearing adjusting washers as it will change the side bearing

preload torque.

Companion Flange Runout

PDIA0440E

PDIA0441E

Backlash

Refer to 

DLN-483, "Inspection and 

Adjustment"

If the backlash is greater than specification:

Make side bearing adjusting washer thicker on drive 
gear back side, and side bearing adjusting washer 
thinner on drive gear tooth side by the same amount. 
Refer to 

DLN-483, "Inspection and Adjustment"

.

If the backlash is less than specification:

Make side bearing adjusting washer thinner on drive 
gear back side, and side bearing adjusting washer 
thicker on drive gear tooth side by the same amount. 
Refer to 

DLN-483, "Inspection and Adjustment"

.

SPD513

August 2012

2012 Pathfinder

DLN-470

< UNIT DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY >

[REAR FINAL DRIVE: R230]

REAR FINAL DRIVE

1. Rotate companion flange and check for runout on the outer face

of the companion flange using suitable tool.

2. If the runout is outside of the runout limit, follow the procedure

below to adjust.

a. Rotate the companion flange on the drive pinion by 90

°

, 180

°

and 270

°

 while checking for the position where the runout is

minimum.

b. If the runout is still outside of the runout limit after the companion

flange has been rotated on the drive pinion, possible cause could be an assembly malfunction of drive pin-

ion and drive pinion bearing or a malfunctioning drive pinion bearing.

c.

If the runout is still outside of the runout limit after repair of the assembly of drive pinion and drive pinion

bearing or drive pinion bearing, replace the companion flange.

DISASSEMBLY

Side Flange

1. Drain the differential gear oil if necessary.
2. Remove the side flange using Tools.

3. Remove the side oil seal using suitable tool.

CAUTION:

Do not to damage gear carrier.

Differential Assembly

1. Remove the side flanges. Refer to 

DLN-460, "Removal and Installation"

.

2. Remove the carrier cover bolts.
3. Remove the carrier cover bolts and separate the carrier cover

from the gear carrier using Tool.

CAUTION:

• Do not damage the mating surface.

• Do not insert flat-bladed screwdriver, this will damage the

mating surface.

Runout limit

Refer to 

DLN-483, "Inspection and 

Adjustment"

WDIA0231E

Tool numbers

(A): KV40104100 ( — )
(B): ST36230000 (J-25840-A)

WDIA0115E

SDIA0495E

Tool number

: KV10111100 (J-37228)

WDIA0123E

August 2012

2012 Pathfinder

REAR FINAL DRIVE

DLN-471

< UNIT DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY >

[REAR FINAL DRIVE: R230]

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4. Mount the carrier on the Tool using two 45 mm (1.77 in) spacers.

5. For proper reinstallation, paint matching marks on one side of

the side bearing cap and gear carrier.

CAUTION:

• For matching marks, use paint. Do not damage side bear-

ing cap or gear carrier.

• Side bearing caps are line-board during manufacture. The

matching marks are used to reinstall them in their original

positions.

6. Remove the side bearing caps.

7. Lift the differential case assembly out using Tool.

CAUTION:

Tool number

: KV38100800 (J-25604-01)

SPD888

SDIA1795E

S-PD343

Tool number

: HT72400000 ( — )

S-PD344

August 2012

2012 Pathfinder

DLN-472

< UNIT DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY >

[REAR FINAL DRIVE: R230]

REAR FINAL DRIVE

• Keep side bearing outer races together with inner race.

Do not mix them up.

• Keep side bearing adjusting washers together with side

bearings.

8. Remove the side bearing inner races using Tools.

CAUTION:

• Engage Tool jaws in bearing groove to prevent damage.

• Place copper plates between the side bearing and drive

gear and the vise to prevent damage.

• Do not remove side bearing inner race unless it is being

replaced.

9. For proper reinstallation, paint matching marks on the differential

case and drive gear.

CAUTION:

Use paint for matching marks. Do not damage differential

case or drive gear.

10. Remove the drive gear bolts.
11. Tap the drive gear off the differential case using suitable tool.

CAUTION:

Tap evenly all around to keep drive gear from bending.

12. Remove the lock pin of the pinion mate shaft from the drive gear

side using suitable tool.

SPD919

Tool number

(A): ST3306S001 ( — )
(B): ST33061000 (J-8107-2)

SPD920

PDIA0496E

WDIA0132E

August 2012

2012 Pathfinder

REAR FINAL DRIVE

DLN-473

< UNIT DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY >

[REAR FINAL DRIVE: R230]

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13. Remove the pinion mate shaft.

14. Turn the pinion mate gear, then remove the pinion mate gear,

pinion mate thrust washer, side gear and side gear thrust

washer from the differential case.

Drive Pinion Assembly

1. Remove the differential assembly. Refer to 

DLN-463, "Removal and Installation"

.

2. Remove the drive pinion lock nut using suitable tool.
3. Put matching marks on the companion flange and drive pinion

using paint.

CAUTION:

Use paint to make the matching marks. Do not damage the

companion flange or drive pinion.

4. Remove the companion flange using suitable tool.

SDIA0031J

SDIA0032J

SDIA1144E

SDIA1132E

August 2012

2012 Pathfinder

DLN-474

< UNIT DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY >

[REAR FINAL DRIVE: R230]

REAR FINAL DRIVE

5. Press the drive pinion assembly (with rear inner bearing race

and collapsible spacer) out of the gear carrier.

CAUTION:

Do not drop drive pinion assembly.

6. Remove the front oil seal.

CAUTION:

Do not damage gear carrier.

7. Remove the drive pinion front bearing inner race.

8. Remove the drive pinion rear bearing inner race and drive pinion

height adjusting washer using Tool.

9. Remove the drive pinion front and rear bearing outer races by

tapping them uniformly using suitable tool.

CAUTION:

Do not damage gear carrier.

INSPECTION AFTER DISASSEMBLY

Clean the disassembled parts. Then inspect the parts for wear or damage. If wear or damage are found, follow

the measures below.

Drive Pinion and Drive Gear

• If the drive pinion and drive gear teeth do not mesh or line-up correctly, determine the cause and adjust,

repair, or replace as necessary.

• If the drive pinion or drive gear are worn, cracked, damaged, pitted or chipped (by friction) noticeably,

replace with new drive pinion and drive gear.

• Drive pinion and drive gear are supplied in matched sets only. Matching numbers on both drive pinion and

drive gear are etched for verification. If a new drive pinion and drive gear set are being used, verify the num-

bers of each drive pinion and drive gear before proceeding with assembly.

Bearing

• If bearings are chipped (by friction), pitted, worn, rusted, scratched, or unusual noise is coming from bearing,

replace with new bearing assembly (as a new set).

• Bearing must be replaced with a new one whenever disassembled.

Side Gear and Pinion Mate Gear

• If any cracks or damage are found on the surface of the teeth, replace with new one.

• If any worn or chipped marks are found on the side of the side gear and pinion mate gear which contact the

thrust washer, replace with new one.

• Replace both side gear and pinion mate gear as a set when replacing side gear or pinion mate gear.

Side Gear Thrust Washer and Pinion Mate Thrust Washer

• If any chips (by friction), damage, or unusual wear are found, replace with new one.

SPD892

Tool number:

: ST30031000 (J-22912-01)

S-PD179

SDIA0817E

August 2012

2012 Pathfinder

REAR FINAL DRIVE

DLN-475

< UNIT DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY >

[REAR FINAL DRIVE: R230]

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Gear Carrier

• If any wear or cracks are found on the contact sides of gear carrier, replace with new one.

Companion Flange

• If any chips (about 0.1mm, 0.004 in) or other damage on the companion flange surface which contacts the

front oil seal lips are found, replace with new one.

ADJUSTING AND SELECTING WASHERS

Side Gear Back Clearance

• Assemble the differential parts if they are disassembled.
1. Place the differential case straight up so that the side gear to be

measured is upward.

2. Using feeler gauges, measure the clearance between the side

gear back and differential case at three different points, while

rotating the side gear. Average the three readings to calculate

the clearance. (Measure the clearance of the other side as well.)

• If the side gear back clearance is outside of the specification,

use a thicker or thinner side gear thrust washer to adjust.

Refer to 

DLN-483, "Inspection and Adjustment"

.

CAUTION:

• Insert feeler gauges with the same thickness on both

sides to prevent side gear from tilting.

• Each gear should rotate smoothly without excessive

resistance during differential motion.

• Select a side gear thrust washer for right and left individually.

NOTE:

Side gear back clearance is clearance between side gear and differential case for adjusting side gear

backlash.

Side Bearing Preload Torque

• A selection of side bearing adjusting washers is required for successful completion of this procedure.

PDIA0460E

Side gear back clearance: Refer to 

DLN-483, "Inspec-

tion and Adjustment"

If the side gear back clearance is greater than 
specification:

Use a thicker side gear thrust washer.

If the side gear back clearance is less than spec-
ification:

Use a thinner side gear thrust washer.

PDIA0576E

August 2012

2012 Pathfinder

DLN-476

< UNIT DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY >

[REAR FINAL DRIVE: R230]

REAR FINAL DRIVE

1. Apply differential gear oil to the side bearings, and install the dif-

ferential case assembly with the side bearing outer races into

the gear carrier.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse side bearing outer race when replacing side

bearing inner race (replace as a set).

2. Insert the left and right original side bearing adjusting washers in

place between side bearings and gear carrier.

3. Align the matching mark on the side bearing cap with the match-

ing mark on the gear carrier.

4. Install the side bearing caps and tighten the side bearing cap

bolts to the specified torque. Refer to 

DLN-466, "Exploded

View"

.

5. Turn the differential assembly several times to seat the side

bearings.

6. To determine side bearing preload torque, measure the pulling

force of the differential assembly at the drive gear bolt using

Tool.

NOTE:

If pulling force of the differential assembly at the drive gear bolt

is within specification, side bearing preload torque will also be

within specification. Refer to 

DLN-483, "Inspection and Adjustment"

.

SPD527

SPD924

SDIA1795E

Tool number

: 

—

 (J-8129)

Specification

Refer to 

DLN-483, "Inspection and Ad-

justment"

SPD194A

August 2012

2012 Pathfinder