Login to enhance your online experience. Login or Create an Account
Logo
Shopping Cart

Shopping Cart 0 Items (Empty)

Isuzu F Series FSR FTR FVR Truck 1997-2003 Workshop Manual digital download

Tools & consumables
- Basic hand tools: metric socket/ratchet set, breaker bar, combination wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, hammer.
- Floor jack and heavy-duty jack stands or full hoist rated for truck.
- Wheel chocks, gloves, eye protection, shop rags.
- Drain pan, fluid pump/siphon.
- Torque wrench (wide range, accurate), impact wrench (optional).
- Seal puller, snap-ring pliers (if applicable).
- Gear marking compound (Prussian blue), cleaning solvent, brushes.
- Dial indicator with magnetic base (for backlash).
- Torque/angle gauge (if specified by manual).
- Bearing puller and hydraulic shop press or heavy-duty bearing separator.
- Bearing race driver set, drift punches, soft-face mallet.
- Pinion depth tool or shim kit and depth gauge (for ring & pinion replacement).
- Puller for carrier bearings (if carrier bearing removal required).
- Gasket scraper, gasket maker/RTV or new differential cover gasket.
- New differential fluid (correct grade & capacity per Isuzu manual), replacement seals, crush sleeve (if used), pinion nut (if single-use), ring & pinion bolts (use new if specified), carrier bearing shims/bearings if needed, drain plug washer.

Safety precautions
- Work on a level surface, chock front wheels and put transmission/transfer case in park/neutral and apply parking brake.
- Use heavy-duty jack stands or commercial hoist; never rely on a jack alone.
- Wear eye protection and gloves. Gear oil is slippery and hot — allow axle/diff to cool.
- Support axle/differential housing if removing axles or carrier to prevent sudden drop.
- Dispose of used gear oil per local regs.

Two service levels — pick one appropriate for your job

A) Routine differential service (fluid change & basic inspection)
Use when performing scheduled maintenance and no internal complaints.

Steps:
1. Position and secure vehicle: chock, raise and support on stands/hoist.
2. Clean area around fill and drain plugs to prevent contamination.
3. Remove fill plug first (prevents vacuum and allows proper drain). Then remove drain plug and drain fluid into pan. Allow full drain; pump if necessary.
4. Inspect drained fluid for metal particles or heavy scoring — small fine particles normal; heavy chunks or magnet full of ferrous debris indicates internal damage and needs full teardown.
5. Remove fill & drain plugs, clean threads, replace crush washer or drain plug washer.
6. If housing uses a removable cover: remove differential cover bolts and pry cover to remove; clean mating surfaces and remove old gasket material. If the housing is sealed except for axle seals, inspect axle seals for leaks.
7. Visually inspect ring gear faces, pinion area, carrier bearings, axle splines, and housing for leaks or damage. Use gear marking compound later if noise suspected.
8. Clean internal surfaces with solvent; wipe dry.
9. Reassemble: fit new gasket or apply RTV per manual, reinstall cover and bolts finger-tight. Torque bolts to spec (consult Isuzu manual) in a criss-cross pattern.
10. Refill with correct gear oil to bottom of fill hole (use factory-specified weight and capacity). Reinstall fill plug with new washer.
11. Lower vehicle, take a short test drive, recheck for leaks and final fluid level after warm-up.

Common pitfalls (routine):
- Removing drain plug before fill plug — may trap vacuum and not drain completely.
- Reusing old gasket material and not cleaning surfaces — leads to leaks.
- Using wrong viscosity or lubricant not meeting Isuzu spec — causes premature wear.
- Not checking for metal debris — masks a failing differential.

B) Major service / rebuild / ring & pinion replacement (detailed)
Required when backlash, gear contact pattern, bearings, seals or gear teeth are worn/noisy. This is advanced; use factory workshop manual for exact specs.

Overview of steps (high level — follow manual for specs and sequences):
1. Preparation
- Park, chock, lift and support axle via stands or hoist. Remove wheels if needed.
- Remove brake components, hub/drum or disc assemblies as necessary to access axle shafts and differential.
- Drain differential fluid.

2. Remove axle shafts or half-shafts
- Remove C‑clips or retainer bolts at differential (depending on axle type), slide out shafts carefully. Support axle housing to avoid stresses.

3. Remove carrier assembly
- Remove carrier bearing caps (mark orientation). Pull carrier and ring gear assembly from housing (may need spreader). Remove bearing blocks or shims; retain shim locations.
- Note: take pictures and label everything to preserve original shim combos and torque sequences.

4. Inspect and disassemble carrier
- Remove ring gear bolts and remove ring from carrier. Inspect ring/pinion gear faces, bearings, races, carrier housing, and pinion yoke/splines.

5. Remove pinion
- Remove pinion yoke or flange; remove pinion nut (may be single-use; replace if specified). Use puller to press pinion out with bearings and races.
- Keep track: many truck diff setups use a crush sleeve or shim to set pinion bearing preload — this must be replaced or reset per manual (crush sleeve is one-time use).

6. Replace bearings/races/seals
- Press out old bearings and races; install new races with correct driver and seat them fully. Press new bearings onto pinion and carrier as required.
- Replace pinion seal and axle seals. If using a crush sleeve, install a new one.

7. Set pinion depth and preload
- Use a pinion depth tool and shim/crush sleeve method per manual to obtain correct pinion depth into ring gear.
- Set pinion bearing preload using torque on pinion nut to specified preload or tighten to crush-sleeve spec. Use a preload gauge or follow torque/preload procedure exactly.

8. Install ring gear on carrier, torque bolts
- If replacing ring gear, ensure correct orientation. Torque bolts to spec (use thread locker if specified). Clean bolt holes and use new bolts if required.

9. Set carrier position/backlash
- Install carrier assembly with shims or adjusters to set backlash. Use dial indicator mounted on ring gear teeth; rotate ring gear and measure backlash at multiple teeth — target backlash per manual.
- Adjust shims or adjuster nuts evenly until backlash spec and bearing preload (carrier bearing preload) are correct. Use torque wrench to set bearing cap bolts to spec. Mark and verify.

10. Verify gear contact pattern
- Apply gear marking compound to ring gear teeth and rotate the pinion several turns under approximate preload (use proper torque on pinion nut for test). Inspect contact patch location on tooth.
- Desired contact patch is centered on face width according to manual (typically slightly toward toe or heel depending on set). Adjust pinion depth or carrier shim until pattern is correct.
- After adjustments, recheck backlash and preload.

11. Final assembly
- Install new carrier bearing caps and torque to spec. Install cover/gasket or apply RTV as required. Reinstall axle shafts, hubs, brakes, wheels.
- Refill with specified gear oil to fill level.

12. Break-in and test
- Lower vehicle, perform road test under light load, recheck for noise and leaks. Recheck torque on cover/axle fasteners after short use if manual requires.

How each specialized tool is used
- Dial indicator: magnetic base anchored to housing, tip on ring gear tooth; measures backlash. Rotate ring gear back and forth and read variation.
- Pinion depth tool: measures the distance pinion gear sits relative to housing reference; used with shims or to set crush sleeve torque to achieve specified depth.
- Bearing puller/press: removes and installs bearings without damaging races. Use appropriate adapters to press on bearing inner race.
- Bearing race driver: seats bearing races squarely into housing.
- Gear marking compound: apply a thin layer to ring gear tooth face, rotate pinion a few turns; pattern shows where teeth contact — used to fine-tune pinion depth/backlash.
- Torque wrench: critical for accurate preload on pinion nut and for carrier cap and ring gear bolts; always torque in sequences specified.

Replacement parts commonly required
- Differential fluid (correct grade and capacity)
- Differential cover gasket or RTV
- Pinion seal and axle seals
- Drain plug washer
- New pinion nut/crush sleeve (if one-time-use)
- Carrier bearing shims or new bearings and races if worn
- Ring & pinion set if teeth are damaged or excessive wear
- Ring gear bolts (often specified as replaceable)
- Carrier bearing races and bearings if noisy/loose
- Any axle hub seals/O-rings disturbed during disassembly

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Incorrect torque or preload: always use calibrated torque wrench and follow the manual. Wrong pinion preload causes noise and bearing failure.
- Wrong fill level or lubricant: overfill or underfill causes overheating and chatter. Use factory spec oil type and fill to bottom of fill hole.
- Reusing crush sleeve or one-time nuts: replacing these when required prevents preload loss.
- Improper backlash or pinion depth: gear noise and rapid wear. Use dial indicator and gear marking compound; fine adjustments are necessary.
- Not cleaning mating surfaces: contamination causes leaks.
- Not marking shims/parts orientation: increases time to reassemble and may lead to incorrect setup.
- Not replacing seals/bearings when disturbed: leads to leaks and early failure.
- Skipping pattern check: visually OK teeth don’t guarantee correct contact; always check pattern under proper preload.

Notes
- Exact torque specs, backlash range, pinion preload, shim thicknesses, and lubricant spec vary by model/year and differential ratio. Always consult the Isuzu Workshop Manual (truck’s VIN/model year section) for the precise values and any model-specific procedures (e.g., whether pinion uses crush sleeve or shims).
- If you are not experienced with ring & pinion setup, consider sending the ring & pinion to a specialist or refer to Isuzu dealer shop for final setup — incorrect setup destroys gears quickly.

Done.
rteeqp73

You Might Also Like...

Kryptronic Internet Software Solutions