Spicer Drive Axles Failure Analysis Service Manual - Manual (Page 24)

Ring Gear and Pinion
23
Lubrication Failures
Ring Gear - Incorrect Lube Drive Pinion - Incorrect Lube
Ring Gear - Low Lube - Crows Foot Drive Pinion - Low Lube - Scoring
General Description
and Usual Causes: • Incorrect lube (wrong viscosity or wrong lube type): Will reduce the life of bearings, gears, bushings,
and thrust washers.
• Containment Lube: Water, foreign material, and normal wear or break-in material can cause etching,
scoring, or pitting to the contact surfaces. Foreign material in the lube is abrasive.
• Low or no lube: Will create friction which causes overheating, break-down of the protective film, and
finally parts seizure of the surfaces of mating parts.
Failure Prevention: • Maintenance, Rebuilding, and Adjustment - see Failure Prevention Section
Teeth at top lands
worn round
Teeth at top land
worn to a point
Crows foot