Use gear marking compound to paint all of the ring gear teeth.
Ring and pinion pattern.
Ring and pinion gear pattern is one of the most valuable tools for determining if a differential is properly set up.
Ring gear and pinion tooth pattern interpretation when setting the pinion position many of the service manuals required a final pinion position check by using gauges that verified the dimension from the center line of the differential carrier center line of ring gear to the face of the pinion button.
For more in depth information about ring and pinion gear patterns and how to make adjustments see our installation instructions page.
Move the ring gear closer to the pinion decrease backlash while maintaining minimum backlash.
The images below illustrate both acceptable and unacceptable ring and pinion gear patterns.
Load the ring gear and run a full contact pattern check.
This pattern indicates excessive pinion depth.
Proper ring gear to pinion gear contact pattern is critical for quiet and trouble free gear set operation.
Begin by setting proper pinion bearing preload total turning preload and ring gear backlash.
Toe contact pattern is concentrated off the toe end of the drive gear tooth.