I just serviced the differential on my 97 B2500 - replaced gear oil and cover gasket.

I refilled with Mobil1 synthetic 75W-140 LS to the bottom of the plug hole, but because of the method I used (tube attached to plastic squeeze bottle) I was not able to accurately measure the amount of oil that went back into the rear.

Anyone know the official capacity of the diff according to Dodge? I'm not concerned about the refill since I know it's up to the hole, but I did save the drained oil in a seperate container and I want to measure what was actually in there versus what is supposed to be in there.

Also, does anyone know if grey colored silicone what the factory used to seal the diff cover?

 

What size rear-end?

 

Chrysler 8.25 with anti-lock

 

A 8.25 rear-end takes: 4.8 Pints (2.4 quarts) of 75W-90 GL-5 Gear Oil, plus for a Limited Slip Differential (LSD,) you would add five ounces of LSD Friction Modifier.

 

Cool - thanks. How do I identify LSD? The underhood build sticker simply says "3.5 Axle Ratio" & "Rear Axle - Chrysler 8.25."

There are two metal tags on the rear - one says "35" which logic says is the external indicator for the Axle Ratio. The second tag is pretty damn rusty, but I think it says "7287."

BTW, no Beatles or acid trip jokes OK?

 

The easiest way is to jack up the rear-end, with the tranny in park and the e-brake off, then spin one of the tires. If the tire on the other side rotates in the opposite direction you have a regular rear-end. If you cannot rotate the tire then you have an LSD. This is assuming your rear-end is in good shape and the clutches aren't blown. Other than that, you'd have to pull the cover off to see what's inside.


BTW...
LSD can be a crystal, it is the purest and most potent form - most people never get to see one. Crystals are the form when they just come out of the labs. It you touch a crystal, you will get very high because LSD is absorbed by the skin.

LSD can be liquid; that is when they dissolve the crystal in water. It has a strange, not strong but recognizable taste or effect on the tongue. Visually, you can recognize it because it glows blue-white under blacklights.

LSD can come on a blotter paper - this is when they dip the paper in the liquid acid. The paper is usually divided in many small squares of about 5mm X 5mm. It also generally has some trippy art printed on it, but sometimes it is plain white or color.

LSD can come on sugar cubes - they are just a sugar cube that has a drop of liquid acid put on it.

LSD can come in microdots. They are small pills, they can be many colours. Those were most popular in the 60s and 70s, and are rarely found these days, if they still exist at all.

 

Alloro, were you a 60's hippie?

Rusty, if you went with 140 weight synthetic because the diff was noisy, I hope it works for you.

While I have used a gasket and orange Permatex on the cover, the last time I skipped the gasket, and just let the Grey/ silver Permatex go off for about 15 minutes before re installing the cover.

No leaks in almost 2 years

FYI, this is what the interior of my 8 3/8 (8.25) open diff looked like.

Here is one reason why I bought a junkyard axle, and had new bearings installed in that:

The axleshafts were pitted as well.

If you are concerned because it seems noisy, consider the possibility that U joints could be worn. I had a u joint that had zero play. I needed a different u joint for the 9.25 junkyard axle, and found the needle bearings in the U joint were worn flat, and diagonal in the caps.

 

Nope, never hugged a tree in my life...only ferrets and women.

 

There is a TSB from Chrysler that says to use 75W90 for the rear fluid. A synthetic will work best with the friction modifier. Chrysler issued the bulletin to help with fleet fuel economy and the synthetic offers the best protection.

 

BTW, STP was the 4 day LSD. No, not the Andy Granatelli stuff........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Granatelli