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05 Front and Rear Diff Change

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Snapped a differential cover bolt!

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Getting ready to change my front and rear diff fluid. Now I know there have been tons of posts regarding this subject, but to be honest, it is hard to decipher which one is better. It sounds to me like a lot of guys using the synth or AMS products, have got some shudders or noises, where as the fellas using RP have been much happier. I also need some help with gear lube and additives, not sure if I need to add them and if so, not sure how much???? This thread is not meant to start another oil war between ya'll, although I guess that possibility always exists, but I would like to know what ya'll think?????

Chris and remember none of this ----> :-{} :-{}
 
I use Mobil 1 75w-90... no problems.

BTW, I also live in Danville behind the Livery shopping center. Where do you live?
 
I use Mobil 1 100% syn 75W90 from Checker or Auto Zone for about $8 / qt. No additive required becasue the AAM axles do not use clutches.
 
I've switched four 3rd gens to Amsoil in the diffs. Three of the four never had any chatter but my '03 dually didn't like the the Amsoil for some reason. It was pretty grabby and wasn't working smoothly with the Amsoil. I went back to the Mopar stuff on that truck, problem solved.
 
Hmnnn. Looks like I may have gotten some bad info from my

local Dodge dealer, but anyhow I'll add my 0. 02 here.



My truck is 05 2500 4x4 QC short bed.



At about 12K mi, I installed a mag-hytec rear diff cover and

chose to change rear diff oil in the process. I used the dealer's

synthetic ($$$) fluid largely with warranty in mind. Dealer told

me I yes needed to use the limited slip additive, so at first

purchase I bought one 4 oz bottle of limited slip.



Since new, the truck drove fine but I could notice some rear

end shudder when turning tight corners such as turn from

stop sign etc. Not of major concern, reminiscent of the old

muscle car days driving a muscle car with posi rear end etc.



I drained fluid, installed mag-hytec cover. Noted about zero

wear, no shavings, just a very small amt of metal powder = good.

I refilled to same as stock oil level. (while I had both covers off,

I matched up the bolt holes and sighted the bottom of both

cover plugs were at same vertical level). On the initial fill I added

the single 4 oz bottle of limited slip additive. I think the total

was 5 qts diff oil + 4oz bottle limited slip + just a bit of 6th bottle of oil.



Side note: According to the instructions on the limited slip additive,

the amt I had installed at that point was a little on the low side

of percentage limited slip for the given amt of rear diff oil.



The truck drove exactly same as new. No major issues, but noticed

some shudder on sharp turns.



At a later date (couple weeks), I purchased second bottle of

limited slip additive. I added about half (2 oz) of that bottle, and

at same time decided to add rest of the 6th qt of diff fluid.

(this brings rear diff oil to slightly higher level than stock fill plug

but still well below the level on the mag hytec dipstick. ie. above

the lower parts of the axle tubes, but not nearly up to the axle shafts)



After adding the extra limited slip + remaining portion of the 6th

quart (I estimate it was about 80% of the 6th quart I added)

I notice no longer shudder on tight turns.



I guess we can't tell whether the shudder disappeared because

I added 2 oz more limited slip, or because I added about 3/4 of

another quart of diff oil.



From reading earlier parts of this post, looks like my dealer may

have given me bad info and I didn't need to add the limited slip

stuff at all. Just thought I'd offer my experience.



BTW also installed temp gauge dedicated to rear diff, using

temp probe location in the mag-hytec cover. That was perhaps

the biggest surprise of all... In upper 90's TX sun, towing

an enclosed flat front Haulmark relatively light at about 5000 lbs total,

65MPH steady hwy, rear end ran about 195F. I didn't realize

they got that warm. Have since been told by others that's normal.

Runs 140-150F hwy on similar day when towing nothing.
 
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