If the tooth contact pattern on a ring gear is too close to the heel on the drive side, what should be done to the drive pinion?

When evaluating the tooth contact pattern on a ring gear, it's crucial to ensure that the alignment and positioning of the drive pinion are correct to allow for optimal gear meshing and to avoid premature wear or failure. A contact pattern that is too close to the heel on the drive side indicates that the pinion is improperly positioned relative to the ring gear.

In this scenario, the appropriate action for correcting the tooth contact pattern is to replace the drive pinion if it consistently shows this issue after adjustments are made. This is because a worn or improperly manufactured pinion may not mesh correctly with the ring gear, leading to a contact pattern that cannot be corrected through adjustment alone.

Moving the drive pinion closer to or farther from the ring gear may yield temporary adjustments, but if the pinion itself is the source of the misalignment or if it is worn out, these methods would not address the underlying problem. Similarly, adjusting for more preload is not a solution for correcting contact patterns that indicate fundamental misalignment. Replacing the pinion ensures that a properly functioning component is used, which is essential for restoring correct gear engagements and prolonging the lifespan of the differential assembly.