I've been hearing a clicking from the rear and I want to pop the cover off, but what should I be looking for, and will I mess anything up by taking it off? Will fluid leak out? And if I need to replace gears, anyone know any shops in south jersey? Thanks again everyone

 

How many miles are on your truck? What kind of clicking is it? Consistent with certain speeds? Only when turning? Accelerating?

You wont hurt a thing by pulling the cover off. If you do, the fluid will leak out. But if the fluid has never been changed, this can be a good time to do so. However, if it were me, I would take it int a professional and have them listen to it. Could be U-Joints?

I sure would hate to see you spend money on diff fluid, just to have to have the re-end re built, and have to buy more fluid!

 

Be sure to take pics and I agree on trying to save the fluid unless you have high miles on it already. Seal it back up with Permatex.

 

There is 80000 miles on it, and I've never changed the fluid. And it only happens when accelerating. Sounds like a card in a bike spoke. I just don't want to pull off the cover and have fluid everywhere and not know what to do, you know? I have never changed it in any truck

 

well your supposed to change the fluid every 15k miles...

 

So obiviously you need to not keep the fluid and change it. Just take out the bolts. Dont worry about the cover falling off because it wont. it will still be held on by the sealent. Take a pan or bucket and place under the housing the gently pry the cover from the bottom. When the seal beaks the fluid will ooze out and in to the pan. Once it is drained then you can pull it off and inspect.

 

By 80kmi these are what need to be changed
Transmission fluid(30-50kmi)
Differential fluids(15-30kmi)
Transfer case (4x4)(15-30kmi)
Power steering fluid(50-100kmi)
Engine Coolant(50kmi)
Spark plugs(30kmi)

Ofcourse if you went to a shop for all those at once. Your looking at easily $800-1000. Parts alone are very expensive because your dealing with Synthetic Fluids.

If you don't know what you are doing, i would bring it into a mechanic because they will do it much faster than you would and more than likely theirs won't leak and yours may. It would suck to do it all over again if it leaked. Also, just to pour the fluid into the differential requires a blow/suction gun unless you've got that rubber plug on the cover?

 

No offense, but if you don't know that the fluid will come pouring out when you remove the diff cover, you won't know what to look for when you get it off. Take it to an experienced diff & axle shop and have them look at it. YOU ARE WAY OVER DUE FOR A FLUID CHANGE ANYWAY!!!

 

yea its like 150 at the dealer...

 

I agree 100%. If you want to get educated on rear differentials then start reading. This way you will have an idea on what to look for and what to do if you find pieces. Can you even get the fill plug out? Do you have the proper amount of fresh fluid in the correct viscosity? What do you use for a new gasket? These and many more questions you MUST be able to answer (without searching google) off the cuff before even attempting to service the axles.