Finally Getting Around To Installing My Leveling Kit!

[alitterit]

Finally, after receiving my RC leveling kit a few months ago and having to look at it sitting in my tool box I finally found tires, the place, and the time to install everything and get it aligned. Was able to get my hands on a set of Pro Comp Xtreme M/T for $200 and my friends shop is slow enough he said I will be able to come in and use the lift tomm during the day and he will align it for me right afterwards...

 

Pics will be up tomm after I am finished, figure there are enough threads/pics on how to do the install that I wont do a write up but everyone loves before and after pics.

 

On a side note, I changed the diff fluid the other night and it was black but there was not much glitter in the oil at all. actually alot less then expected and only a slight bit on the magnet. I ecpected more being as I figured this was the first time it was changed. So I was happy about that.... But I did notice 2 things afterwards.

 

1.) It feels as if the G80 works better with the fluid change.. Is this true, or is this my mind playing tricks on me?

When raining or in grass, mud, ect. It has a bad habit of "ratcheting" when a tire spins if im not on the throttle hard, it will lock, unlock, lock, unlock and so on till I get off the throttle. Seems like it isn't doing that as much as it used to. It only did it 1 time today and the night I changed fluid I went into about 3" of mud while turning around at the local boat access and it locked when I needed it and stayed locked until I didnt...

 

2.) The day after I changed the fluid after driving to work (30 min drive) I noticed very very slight bit of oil on the bottom of the diff cover but above the bolts about an inch diameter but no oil around it almost as it seeped through the cover but the cover has no holes or anything. (checked when changed fluid) Cant check today because its raining and cover is wet but any idea what might have caused that?

 

Sorry for the semi long post, thanks in advance for any help!!! And here are some pics....

 

 

Diff cover before:

 

Diff cover after:

 

What I cleaned off the diff:

 

The new meats, they look HUGE but they are 285/70R17:

[alitterit]

Just in case anyone wanted to see...

 

 

 

[alitterit]

163 views and not 1 person has any kind of input?

 

Maybe I should have started this thread saying "what size tires can I fit" that threads always seems to get a bunch of answers aside from the usual "searching is your friend" replies....

[DaveH71]

I would get some paint on that cover as soon as possible. That bare metal is gonna rust quickly.

[ChevyTech77]

Yes, it is very true that G80's like their fluid changed reguarly yet GM does not list it on the maintenance schedule because people want a maintenance free vehicle anymore. Kinda sad, really. Make sure the fluid you used doesn't have

any friction modifiers in it for limited slip differentials either, btw. Straight synthetic fluid is all you need.

 

Keep an eye on the leak. Sometimes fluid ends up on the bolts are in the bolt threads in the housing and can seep back out when you tighten everthing back up. If it continues to leak, pull the cover and put a new gasket on it.

[FargoZ71]

Did you use a gasket or RTV when you put your cover back on?

[KMGZ400]

looks good... nice, clean stock look. where in pa are you?

[alitterit]

DaveH- The cover is painted, its just a silver "hammered" look spray paint with white primer under that that's why it looks like its un-painted.

 

Chevytech- Thanks, just 75-90 full syn is all I used. I know now to use friction modifiers in this rear so no worries there. The oil was above the bolts and to the lower left of the fill plug, with no oil around it. Just an oily spot about an inch in diameter....Might have just been some that was on my fingers while holding the cover in place during installation but who knows. Ill just have to keep an eye on it for a little while see if it comes back.

 

Fargo- I used a gasket as well as a little bit of RTV. Same method I used on all my other trucks/cars and never had an issue so kept going with what was working.

 

KMGZ- About an 45min north of Center City Phila. Morrisville/Yardley to be exact.

[Mossyoakglock]

Yes, it is very true that G80's like their fluid changed reguarly yet GM does not list it on the maintenance schedule because people want a maintenance free vehicle anymore. Kinda sad, really. Make sure the fluid you used doesn't have

any friction modifiers in it for limited slip differentials either, btw. Straight synthetic fluid is all you need.

 

Keep an eye on the leak. Sometimes fluid ends up on the bolts are in the bolt threads in the housing and can seep back out when you tighten everthing back up. If it continues to leak, pull the cover and put a new gasket on it.

 

What gear oil do you recommend? I've been using Mobil1 in mine (quite a few on here use it to) and it has friction modifiers in it for use in LS rear ends with no problems at all. Valvolines full synthetic gear oil has additives for limited slip rear ends but their synthetic blend does not (as far as I can tell). I've never really looked into Lucas or Royal Purple. Not really considering Amsoil since I cannot get it at the local parts stores

[khancock]

Yes, it is very true that G80's like their fluid changed reguarly yet GM does not list it on the maintenance schedule because people want a maintenance free vehicle anymore. Kinda sad, really. Make sure the fluid you used doesn't have

any friction modifiers in it for limited slip differentials either, btw. Straight synthetic fluid is all you need.

 

Keep an eye on the leak. Sometimes fluid ends up on the bolts are in the bolt threads in the housing and can seep back out when you tighten everthing back up. If it continues to leak, pull the cover and put a new gasket on it.

 

What gear oil do you recommend? I've been using Mobil1 in mine (quite a few on here use it to) and it has friction modifiers in it for use in LS rear ends with no problems at all. Valvolines full synthetic gear oil has additives for limited slip rear ends but their synthetic blend does not (as far as I can tell). I've never really looked into Lucas or Royal Purple. Not really considering Amsoil since I cannot get it at the local parts stores

 

 

Also interested in what kind of gear oil you recommend. I use mobile1 in the engine and was planning to use it for the diff as well (I'm due soon). Have only changed diff's once or twice, any specific weight oil I should be looking for?

[ChevyTech77]

Any full synthetic WITHOUT friction modifiers. If you use a fluid with friction modifiers the G80 locking differential will not work correctly/i.e. lock the axles together when necessary. I use Amsoil as I am on their Preferred Customer program and prefer their products over others.

[Garrett Street]

Great looking truck. The leveling kit and new meats make a lot of difference. Very clean, I like it.

[steiny93]

For the 3/4 tons with the g80's you want a 75w-90 that is gl-5 (not gl-4)

Mobil1 LS1 75w-90 is gl-5; valvoline synthetic is also gl-5.

 

But don't use a gl-5 fluid in something that is gl-4 spec'd; the yellow metals will not like gl-5.

[Ryan00TJ]

Mobil 1 75W-90 LS in my front and rear since 3K miles. No problems and the G80 works fine.

[alitterit]

G-street- Thanks, I think it made the truck look more like a truck now.

 

I just went out and looked and while the fluid that I used does not say there is a friction modifier in it, it does say it is for open and limited slip rears. Does this mean there is friction modifier in it? Might be a mistake thats going to cost me a few dollars now to fix...

 

When I was in the store there was a storm coming and the lights were starting to flicker so I wanted to make my purchase before the registers went down. I looked at the front of the bottle and no where did it say anything about a friction modifier and due to my rush I didn't notice that on the back it said it was for LS...

 

Do I need to change the diff fluid again?