Take a look at my 3rd member

[Ethdee]

I have some questions about my rear axle pumpkin.



1) Shouldn't there be a factory stamped indentification tag attached to the cover?

2) Does the orange bolt indicate LSD?

3) There is what seems to me to be a lot of sealant squeezed out around the periphery of the cover. Is that normal for one that's never been apart?

4) Should I be concerned that the cover has "05 02 94" stamped into it?



I ask because I'm going to change my axle lubricant soon, and I don't want the dealer saying that I made any other changes to the vehicle. I don't have a big comfort level with them yet, and I know one of the things I assume is that there's been some work done if the tag is missing. The truck is not yet one month old.



Thanks for your help.



Ethdee

 

[Scooby]

Something doesn't look right.....



Compared to mine, I have a factory tag held on to the cover be the two left bolts (so the tag is positioned vertically) that indicates the gearing ratio, etc... . I also don't have an orange bolt and there is no goop/sealant squeezing out.



I smell a monkey somewhere!

 

[Shelby Griggs]

Sealant looks about like mine did. My tag was MIA too, and I got the truck the day it rolled off of the carrier with 12 miles on it. My front diff does have a tag however. Don't know on the orange bolt, but I had a lot of different colors here and there. Probably just same way of signing the thing at the factory. I had numbers stamped in the cover too, no clue what they mean. There is a big 80 cast in the front side of my diff, representing a Dana 80.



Of course I didn't get an options tag on the front radiator support either. Maybe the tag guy was on break when my truck rolled past.



Shelby

 

[DRR-24V]

Ethdee,

My rear end is stamped identically to yours. Only a little excess sealant on the bottom. My tag is on the right side with no orange bolt. I think you are ok except for the missing ratio tag.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Where built?

Jim,



Mine also has the tag (which has 3. 54 Limited Slip stamped on it) and no orange bolt. I wonder if the plant where it was built is a factor? Mine was built in St. Louis. Another theory, yours is an '01. 5, mine's just an '01.



My rear cover leaked a little bit when it was new - made them fix it. Don't know if that means anything in reference to yours, though.



I know you know how to confirm the presense of limited slip if you're also wondering about that.



Dave

 

[Runaway]

Mexico Made

Mine was built in Mexico and is same as Fireman Daves.



Is the axle still a DANA, or have they changed to the different axles that was mentioned about a year ago?



or



Maybe a new design like the 6-speeds and is tagged with that orange bolt for replacement if a malfuntion occurs.



Just thinking out loud here.

 

[Max Wedge]

Orange bolt is usually the last bolt in the cover--so the line worker knows that all are torqued. They probably ran out of tags. Sealant is normal.



Max

 

[Ethdee]

My truck was built in St. Louis; I don't know where the axle was built. The axle is a Dana 80; it has the "80" cast into the pinion area.



I just returned from the dealer and they were sure that there is no way they could get the "missing" tag for me, just as they're sure they can't get the missing under-hood options sticker.



Using a jack and the tried-and-true method, I determined for myself that it does indeed have LSD in the rear axle.



I asked about changing the rear axle fluid to 75W-140 synthetic, and the service manager was of the opinion that since I ordered the truck with the trailer tow option, that it already has that fluid installed. I'd be pleasantly surprised if that was the case, but I don't know how to figure that out short of getting it analyzed. If I'm going to do that, I might as well just change it instead and save the money.



The reason I asked about the orange bolt signifying LSD, is that I have a vague recollection from the 60s that was done for that purpose. Nobody else I've spoken with has heard of the idea, though. Maybe I'll write to Dana and ask them about it.



Looking at the paint on the cover, there is no indication of there ever having been a tag.



At least I have a picture, and the service manager and parts manager have looked at it, should there ever be a problem.



(Edit after seeing MaxWedge's post) That last bolt scenario makes sense - but it's still odd that none of the axles we looked at on the dealer's lot had one. Running out of tags makes sense, too. Mine was one of the last '01s built. I'm sure these days, parts are ordered on demand, rather than stocked. I know my engine was built just after the truck was ordered.



Ethdee

 

[drag racer]

The service manager must be smoking that funny weed; there ain't no way they put in 75W-140 synthetic from the factory. They use straight 90W conventional gear oil in the factory fill.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I have the exxcessive sealant on mine, and a tag, but no orange bolt

 

[KWIKKURT]

Voiding Your Warranty!!

Get This... ... I changed my Axle fluids and trans case at 10,000 miles. Even though the Manual says 100,000 or life time for the axles. I was careful to not loose the tag and a I even bought DC's Silicone sealant for the cover reseal.



So at about 34,500 Most of them hiway and very little towing miles I am at the dealer fixing some minor problems and ask them to check the LSD because it had quit working. I drive in deep sand Daily and that will wear out a LSD in no time. (There is no doubt that the internal clutch pack is shot) after the service advisor looks under the truck at the axle he says " You live in the Arizona Desert and that means you HAVE to follow the Schedule B Maintence guidelines which state you have to change the Axle fluid every 12,000 miles and from looking at the Cover it has never been off so you have VOIDED YOUR WARRANTIES"



I got in my truck and have never been back to that "5 STAR" dealer since. (Dodge Dealer IN AVONDALE AZ).

 

[cap-n-cray]

My rear diff has the ratio on a metal tag between the top and right hand top side bolts. It also has a metal tag that read "use only limited slip lubrication" with orange paint on it, not the bolt holding it.

 

[Fireman Dave]

I think it's solved!

Jim,



While following a fellow TDR member today, I noticed the orange bolt. Hmm... Then I got thinking and checked the trucks at our breakfast meeting. Without fail, Dana 80s have the orange bolt, Dana 70s don't. All 3500s and all manual 2500s have the 80 and orange bolt. Us automatic 2500s (with the Dana 70) don't have it. My guess is that at the assembly plant, the 80s get the orange to make it easier to tell them apart from the 70s.



Can anyone disprove my theory?



Dave

 

[Scooby]

I can't disprove it - nice work, Ace Ventura!

 

[DRR-24V]

Re: I think it's solved!

I don't know, but I have the Dana 80 on my 2500 and no orange bolt.

 

[ACoyle]

I spent part of the day looking at my Diff yesterday. I have an orange bolt and no tag. I guess that fits the mold Firemad Dave set out.



By the way the 4" Jardine system made all the difference in the world.



Andy

 

[Fireman Dave]

Re: Re: I think it's solved!

Originally posted by Don Rogers

I don't know, but I have the Dana 80 on my 2500 and no orange bolt.

Doh! Perhaps there is a flaw in my theory. Or, maybe this pertains to trucks after a certain year? The trucks I was looking at were all '99 and newer. What year is yours, Don?

 

[MidwestMotorman]

KWIKKURT...

KWIKKURT,





I would have told them the fluid was removed by a siphon pump. A lot of places do that so they do not have to worry about fluid leaks at the cover. I think the D-C service manager definitely gave you the shaft on that deal.

 

[MidwestMotorman]

orange bolt

I have a 99 2500 with 5 speed and Dana 80. It has the orange bolt in the exact same spot with the limited slip tag in the lower left corner. Mine was built in St Loius and has the trailer tow package and the camper package.

 

[Big P]

My truck has a Dana 80 with an orange spot on the LSD tag which is on the lower right side.