need help rear differential on dodge ram 1500

[Dennis McAtee]

Going to change the fluid in the rear differential. The owners manual has this listed. 1500 Model Rear Axle Mopar Synthetic Gear Lubricant SAE 75W-140 (MS-898[b][b]5). Limited-Slip Rear Axles on 1500 Models Require the addition of 118 ml (4 oz.) Mo- par limited slip additive or equivalent.

[/b]My question is how do I know if it is Limited slip or not. The guy at the parts store said just put it (additive) in with the fluid and it would not hurt if it was not.

I have attached pics of the fluids. It seems to say it is already in the fluid but don’t want to mess up my truck.

Attachments:

• difffluid2.jpg
• diffluid.jpg

Topic

[college man]

It already has it. Even if it is not limited slip
you can use it.One for the parts guy. 🙂

[Bill]

Lift the rear tires off the ground and place the truck in neutral. Make sure the front wheels are blocked and spin either rear tire. If both wheels turn in the same direction you have a limited slip diff. I would use the correct fluid and additive for your truck.

[Dennis McAtee]

ok thanks.

[Dennis McAtee]

I did that and when I moved either tire the other tire did not move at all.

[Bill]

OK…Then it’s not a limited slip diff. I think you will find that if you did the same thing with the trans in park the wheels would turn opposite directions.

[Dennis McAtee]

Thanks for the help on the rear. yesterday I got under the truck to look at the front differential. Easy enough to access but a line/wire is running into it. Assume it is for the four wheel drive. How would one disconnect this to get the pan out for cleaning?

[college man]

Is it a connector or bolted in?

[Dennis McAtee]

It looks the same as the rubber fill plug just smaller.

[spelunkerd]

The simplest way to be sure about what type of diff you have is to take the VIN to a dealer and ask them. They’ll tell you with certainty in about 20 seconds. If it’s limited slip you need to pay ($) for the antislip fluid in addition to the gear oil. A second way is to look for a metal tag that should be held under one of the bolts holding the rear diff plate on. Mine was missing. A third and generally more useful way is to contact Dodge and ask them for a “build sheet” for your vehicle. That will give you all kinds of details about your truck. Details like paint, engine size, trans type, and diff type that will eventually become useful in the future. To get a build sheet you go to the following site, and simply ask for it. I did that a few months ago and a printout arrived the next day with all the build details that I will ever need to know. Free.

http://www.dodge.com/wccsapp/universal/D/index.jsp?appStr=wccs&titleStr=Contact+Dodge&familyStr=brand&franchise=D&actionURL=%2Fwccs%2Fbrand_forms%2Fus%2Fwebform.jsp&promotion=null&category=U

Cheers!

[Dennis McAtee]

sent off for it. glad you knew that.

[Author]

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