Something I want to do this summer is to change the oil in the front and rear diffs.
I found this on Northertools.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...search=3322601
Just a manual vacuum device. this unit is 3/4gal, I would assume thats more than plenty?
Anyone else use something like this?

 

Honestly, I would just pull the cover off and give it a new RTV seal job, instead of wasting money on the tool

It would be good for changing the Power steering fluid though

 

How long does the RTV need before you can assemble and add oil?I recall it takes hours right?
Also, why break a good seal. I don't have any leaks or "sweating" on my diffs.
I actually recall seeing in a boating magazine a hand pump you put on your plastic gas can...
Found a pic on eBay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...6482%26fvi%3D1
I could just about change the oil in both diffs in roughly the same amount of time it would take for me to change my engine oil.

 

you need to remove the diff cover.

There's a magnet in the bottom of the gear housing that collects metal fragments, if it gets overloaded the metal swims around freely in the diff oil and could clog up the gears. When I cracked mine open I found parts of the Trac Lok floating around in there. You can't adequately inspect anything by pumping the oil out and replacing it.

Let the RTV set for about ten minutes on the cover and replace it and tighten it down. Then let it sit with the plug off for 2-3 hours. Refill with diff fluid, plug, and drive away.

 

well, since you put it that way...

Any idea of the front and rear capacities are?

 

2.1 quarts in the 9.25 rear. Not sure about the front, but the D44 is a bit smaller right? Check the owner's manual, the capacites should be listed there. 4 quarts should do both. If you have an LSD with clutches, get a friction modifier additive or make sure it's in the diff oil.

Usually I just fill it to where I can bend the first knuckle of my index finger over the side and just touch fluid. Then it usually doesn't spill out thru the plug all over the cover when it gets whipped up by the R&P.

 

+1 on removing the cover, cleaning the magnet, spray the case out with brake cleaner, look for any parts laying around in the bottom that are not supposed to be there.
rear 9.25 capacity is 4.5 pints (2 1/4 qt). plus additive if you have LSD.
front dana 44 is 4.8 pints (2 1/2 qt)

i don't wait a long time for the rtv to dry. clean the covers good, spray w/brake cleaner, put on rtv and bolt it up. don't overtorque the little bolts, about 10-15 pounds is enough. let it sit for an hour or so and add the oil. stick the little nipple thing on the plastic oil bottle into the hole and squeeze it in. i fill mine till it runs out the hole. put in plug. done.

download and save this 2001 service manual. its mostly the same as yours.
best thing you'll ever get for free.
https://dodgeforum.com/m_340929/tm.htm