I'm going to be replacing my gear oil over the weekend.



I'm looking at this gasket:



And will be going with this gear oil (how many quarts will I be needing, 2.5 quarts?).



Then I'll go ahead an button it up after I paint the cover black. Does anyone have any better ideas? Different gear oil, gasket or just use RTV?

 

This thread where I posted all the photos and details about changing mine. I chose to install the gasket dry and not to use sealant because a lot of RTV products aren't compatible, in fact there are factory service bulletins regarding this issue. There is now a brand new Permatex RTV sealant that is compatible with current synthetic gear oil.

It is recommended to use 75W-90 now for a slight mpg increase. Personally I filled mine with Valvoline synthetic 70W90 because I have never had any issues with their products. Working fine and not leaking

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/dodge-r...be-change.html

 

Thanks. I'll go that way then: Just the gasket, no RTV and will use 75W-90. I'll post a few more pictures when I open it up.

 

Well, got that done.







Nothing special with the paint, just so that it looks like someone was in there recently. It looks better than the picture in the first post, anyway. It's not like anyone is going to be starring at my rear end cover at any point.

I also had a good time looking for the lost differential cover plug (it somehow found its way to the grass nearby) for about 30 minutes after the job was done. I do not recommend that activity. Looking for that plug took longer than it took to actually do this job.

Anyway, got a new gasket and oil and we're rolling. I'll give it a look again tomorrow and make sure everything is still properly sealed.

 

Nice work and the pixs too.

My van's rear is too rusted to take anything apart, so, I siphoned the old sludge out and refilled with the Red Line synthetic 75W90 with the Chrysler friction modifier that is in the Redline product.

Ther will come a day when a new cover and doing the job right like that posted here will arrive. But, if the van rusts away any further, the bone yard it goes.

 

Thanks.

I did have a rough time getting the cover off. People say to just loosen all of the bolts and hit it with a rubber mallet (witch I did), but there was no way it was coming off that way. I had to do what most people say not to do (stick a screw driver in between the cover and the gasket), and that worked.

I ended up buying the 1 gallon size gear oil because it was cheaper ($16.00) than buying the quarts seperately ($6.00 each). Now I have almost enough gear oil to do the job again which will just sit around forever. I'll probably just buy another $4.00 gasket and do it one more time in a month or so just to get rid of the left over oil and make sure there is no more dirt in there. Other than that, I really don't see having a legitimate reason to do this again before the vans life is over, so I'll just finish it off now.

 

Looks good! Having to pry off sealed parts is accepted practice. Just go slow and it shouldn't do any damage. However if you are going to retain that stock cover you might want to replace that rubber plug. They leak and a new one costs only a few dollars.

 

Or just post on Craigs List for some Ram Truck owner to swap out the rear fluid for a few $.

 

I've heard of someone using gear oil on brake caliper sliders, is this a good idea or not? I was going to do some brake maintenance and would rather not buy any lube if I already have something laying around that could be used.

 

I wouldn't think so...