Rear Diff Cover Replacement

[mstafford]

I have a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the 4.8L V8 mated to the 5spd manual tranny. I noticed that my rear diff cover has been consistently wet around the bolts, and it is wet to the touch and won't dry - I inspected it closer and it's leaking gear oil from somewhere on the cover but hell if I can figure out where the leak is... So my question is this: how straightforward is changing a diff cover?? Is it done easily in the driveway with hand tools?

 

Thanks for your input guys.

[RaddHazzard]

Its as easy as removing the bolts going around the cover. Easily done with hand tools and a drain pan.

[jro909]

your gasket may be toast, i think its easy to do in the driveway just a matter of taking the bolts out and putting a new gasket in, and cover....don't forget to clean up the internals and put new fluid in

[txab]

Loosen your fill plug first before taking the cover off

[jwhjr]

Loosen your fill plug first before taking the cover off

+1

[mxdirtrider56]

Loosen your fill plug first before taking the cover off

 

Ah yes, otherwise things could get messy.

[mstafford]

Thanks a lot guys.

[Matt_]

Loosen your fill plug first before taking the cover off

 

Ah yes, otherwise things could get messy.

 

 

If by "messy" you mean "you're SOL after you take the cover off if you later find out that the fill plug is seized and won't come out so you have rendered your truck inoperable"... then yes, very messy!

[Vortec-Z71]

Loosen your fill plug first before taking the cover off

 

Ah yes, otherwise things could get messy.

 

 

If by "messy" you mean "you're SOL after you take the cover off if you later find out that the fill plug is seized and won't come out so you have rendered your truck inoperable"... then yes, very messy!

 

 

I bought the new GMT900 diff cover for my 03 Silverado. Now I have two fill plugs, one on the actual cover and one on the axle. However, some engineer at GM thought it would be a good idea to not give me a drain plug.

[Westlotorn]

You can also use RTV silicone sealant instead of the gasket. OE did that for a long time. Works well. Don't use too much though, just a thin film on the entire recently cleaned mating surface. If any old oil leaks on the mating surface silicone won't adhere and you wasted your time, make sure it is clean. Carefully bring your clean and siliconed cover up for install so you don't wipe any silicone off the important mating surface. Start all your bolts. Next hand tighten all the bolts working the Diff cover down slowly, when the bolts touch and get tight by hand switch to a ratchet and bring them all up tight. I would wait an hour and them install your oil and be done. I have run several hundred thousand miles with this method. It worked for the factrory so it can't be all bad. One time I jacked up the rear of the truck with my floor jack and the lip of the cover was hit by the floor jack. This contact made the cover start leaking and I had to drain and re seal the diff. My fault, a gasket may not have leaked in this same situation but you never really know. If you jack the body up, making the shocks extend out it usually will get the sway bar up and out of the way and give you easy access to all the bolts. Good luck.

[oldschool327]

Also ensure your cover is "true". Place it on a flat surface to check. Sometimes whent eh bolts are over torqued the holes will dent in and cause leaks.