Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
3
Time Required
30 minutes
Sections
1
- Differential Oil
- 3 steps
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Back2002-2008 Dodge Ram
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Introduction
What you need
Step 1
Differential Oil
- Locate the twelve 10mm long 14mm hex head bolts holding on the backplate of the differential.
- Position an oil pan under the differential.
- Loosen the bottom 4 bolts first with the 14mm socket wrench. Slowly loosen the rest of the bolts in a random order until oil flows out and enters the drain pan.
- Due to limited resources the oil was not actually replaced in this guide.
Locate the twelve 10mm long 14mm hex head bolts holding on the backplate of the differential.
Position an oil pan under the differential.
Loosen the bottom 4 bolts first with the 14mm socket wrench. Slowly loosen the rest of the bolts in a random order until oil flows out and enters the drain pan.
Due to limited resources the oil was not actually replaced in this guide.
1024
Step 2
- When tightening the bolts on the diff plate it is vital that you tighten them in a star pattern to avoid warping the plate. Do not exceed a torque of 40 ft-lbs per bolt.
- Repeat the last step in reverse to re-tighten the bolts on the differential cover while following the star method of tightening bolts. Use a torque wrench to ensure proper torque specifications.
- Now the differential is fully sealed and ready for new oil.
When tightening the bolts on the diff plate it is vital that you tighten them in a star pattern to avoid warping the plate. Do not exceed a torque of 40 ft-lbs per bolt.
Repeat the last step in reverse to re-tighten the bolts on the differential cover while following the star method of tightening bolts. Use a torque wrench to ensure proper torque specifications.
Now the differential is fully sealed and ready for new oil.
Step 3
- Locate the differential filler plug.
- Use a #2 flathead screwdriver to lift the outer lip of the plug. Pinch the outer lip of the rubber filler plug between your fingers and pull off.
- Use a vacuum pump to pump in new differential fluid until the oil level reaches the bottom of the plug hole.
- Re-insert the rubber filler plug.
- Due to limited resources the differential oil was not changed in this guide.
Locate the differential filler plug.
Use a #2 flathead screwdriver to lift the outer lip of the plug. Pinch the outer lip of the rubber filler plug between your fingers and pull off.
Use a vacuum pump to pump in new differential fluid until the oil level reaches the bottom of the plug hole.
Re-insert the rubber filler plug.
Due to limited resources the differential oil was not changed in this guide.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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Author
with 7 other contributors
Ken
Member since: 10/05/2012
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Team
Cal Poly, Team 3-24, Amido Fall 2012
Member of Cal Poly, Team 3-24, Amido Fall 2012
CPSU-AMIDO-F12S3G24
4 Members
11 Guides authored
N S A (Nick) - Sep 10, 2022
Reply
Don’t forget the clean the old gasket material off, wipe up any differential fluid residue, clean the mating surface with brake cleaner, and add a new gasket maker material.
This guide really left out some very important steps. And don’t reuse your diff fluid people.