Got the diff oil changed w/ pics

[DZink24]

I finally got around to changing over the diff oil this weekend, thanks to the tips and ideas found in the search forum of this site. Pretty easy job, although the shoulders and arms started to burn from being in awkward positions, and I had to get creative with funnels and hoses to refill the pumpkins.

Anyone else who has done this job find it difficult to find the right size socket? 13 mm "worked" for me, although it didn't seem to be the right size.

Both covers came off easy, although the front definitely benefits from having the driver side jacked up a bit, especially if you dont have swivel sockets.

I used an aerosol parts cleaner to break up the grime layer inside the covers, and around the gasket face.

I applied black RTV gasket hi heat sealant to the gasket before reassembling, and slowly worked the bolts down snugly, over several times, then finally after driving a few miles.

The refilling process was tricky, because of the oil pan and spare tire are a bit in the way of allowing the squeeze bottle of oil to be held upside down. I took a short piece of rubber tubing and used it as a funnel, so that I could find a place to hold the bottle more upside down.

 

[DieselFiend]

I think changing Diff oil is one of the easiest jobs to do on this truck. Just gotta make sure to go easy on the diff bolts. They'll set you back $5 a piece if you have to buy them from "the man"

 

[nickleinonen]

hey'll set you back $5 a piece if you have to buy them from "the man"

for some reason i am thinking they are standard grade 8 5/16nc cap screws... that should have a 1/2" head on them.

something like this offering from mcmaster-carr @ 25 pack for $6 and change

 

[rbattelle]

I applied black RTV gasket hi heat sealant to the gasket before reassembling,

You should not have done this. The gasket is reusable and requires no sealant.



Ryan

 

[DZink24]

i could have swore i saw that some guys were using very small amounts of RTV to seal around the bolt holes on the diffs? i cut the tip of the tube to the very smallest hole i could, a bead barely 1/32nd of an inch. no leaks so far



true, extremely easy job!