Rear and front axle service?

Adamace1 · July 9, 2021

I have tried searching and only seem to find things for the older style trucks 2018 and before. Does anyone have a link or write up on how to change the fluids on the axles?

I'm sure the rear is pull of the cover to drian? I think I read on here the front axle is now the same no drain plug like the older trucks?

I'm doing an oil change this weekend I'll do some crawling around and see what I can find. I have 15k miles thinking about doing both front and rear axles at 20k.

Also if I understand right there's two different fluids depending on who makes your axle? Looks like I got aam axles so that's 19300457 high Efficiency 75w 85 fluid for both axles. I have no idea how much. Owners manual says see my dealer....

Thanks for any help.

Edited July 10, 2021 by Adamace1

Adamace1 · July 10, 2021

Looks like I found the correct fluid for the axles at the dealer. I'm going to hold off on doing the axles untill 20k. I need to find out if I need to buy new gaskets or if they are reusable. And what is the proper fluid level, sometimes it calls for fluid to be below the drain plug. So I need to do more research.

I did do transfercase oil.

Plugs were easy to take out. I took out fill plug first. Then the drain plug. It took about 1.5 or more quarts of DEXRON-VI. The fluid was just a tiny bit darker than new fluid but was red. I only got 15,000 on my truck so that's what I expected. It was barely running out when I took the fill plug out. I filled it up to the same level then put plug back in.

So if anyone knows I have few questions.

1. How much fluid is in the front and rear axles?

2. How high should the fluid level be compared to the fill plugs?

3. Are the housing gaskets reusable or do I need to buy new ones?

Thanks for any help.

Edited July 10, 2021 by Adamace1

Transient · July 11, 2021

If I read the owner's manual correctly, you only need an oil change and to rotate and balance the tires at 15,000 miles. Why would you be servicing axles, etc?

diyer2 · July 11, 2021

Why not? Doesn't hurt anything. Easy, cheap.

KARNUT · July 11, 2021

I guess it’s one of those it doesn’t hurt to do so deals. It got me thinking. My latest truck had detailed maintenance records. The guy changed the oil every 3K, filter at 6K. Very old school. Still cold mornings under 40 degrees the lifters are noisy. He never changed the differential. I did at 168K, when I got it. Another interesting point. Iv been using dealer service for awhile. GM,Ford Ram, Hyundai, Toyota in that time period. Their favorite service is injection cleaning. The manual says if you use top tier gas your good. Non of them say a word about deferential, power steering or antifreeze. Interesting.

Adamace1 · July 11, 2021

5 hours ago, Transient said:

If I read the owner's manual correctly, you only need an oil change and to rotate and balance the tires at 15,000 miles. Why would you be servicing axles, etc?

My 2021 owners manual never says to change the front and rear axle fluid. Doesn't tell you what fluid to use. Half the reason I want to do it is to make sure it's the correct fluid, and that it's filled properly.

I do my own maintenance. I'm sure 99 percent of the time the kids doing the oil change never check your axle fluid. For anyone who has has a rear axle lock up on them because of low/ bad fluid you will understand how important it is to maintain them.

Edited July 11, 2021 by Adamace1

Adamace1 · July 11, 2021

5 minutes ago, KARNUT said:

I guess it’s one of those it doesn’t hurt to do so deals. It got me thinking. My latest truck had detailed maintenance records. The guy changed the oil every 3K, filter at 6K. Very old school. Still cold mornings under 40 degrees the lifters are noisy. He never changed the differential. I did at 168K, when I got it. Another interesting point. Iv been using dealer service for awhile. GM,Ford Ram, Hyundai, Toyota in that time period. Their favorite service is injection cleaning. The manual says if you use top tier gas your good. Non of them say a word about deferential, power steering or antifreeze. Interesting.

Humm injection cleaning, pour a 2 dollar little container into the gas tank for 159.99. My manual does give a recomend antifreeze flush timeline.

diyer2 · July 11, 2021

They push the services that sell IMO. How many people do transmission, coolant, differential etc. Me and 2 other people I know do these services. Most change the oil and fix it when it breaks. One of these people is my son, who is a mechanic.

KARNUT · July 11, 2021

16 minutes ago, Adamace1 said:

Humm injection cleaning, pour a 2 dollar little container into the gas tank for 159.99. My manual does give a recomend antifreeze flush timeline.

The last time I looked it was 150K. It my be going the permanent line now. My 04 GMC had it at that. I changed it and right after my water pump seal started leaking.

KARNUT · July 11, 2021

9 minutes ago, diyer2 said:

They push the services that sell IMO. How many people do transmission, coolant, differential etc. Me and 2 other people I know do these services. Most change the oil and fix it when it breaks. One of these people is my son, who is a mechanic.

In my pulling days. It did running gear half the recommended with Amsoil. Especially the transmission. Amusing from what I read about some people feelings on oil changing. The engines I didn’t. Also on Amsoil. As long as the engine didn’t over heat. I stopped pulling my equipment in the early 2000s. I amused and amazed at oil change threads on here. You look it up on the net. The average life of a vehicle is nearing 200K. Most vehicle manufacturers are extending oil change intervals. GM may be lowering theirs. May have something to do with cylinder deactivation. Let’s keep that our secret. Even though they increased oil capacity. One dude on here added engines are junk to his oil is junk threads. Still vehicles are lasting longer. Puzzling.

Adamace1 · July 11, 2021

The dealer did have a scrolling tv with prices on it by the service area.

Tranfer case flush was 127 I paid 25 and did it in 5 minutes.

Their per axle price for diff fluid change was 179 per axle. So 358 plus tax. I belive it might cost me 90 for the right amount of fluid, not sure if I need to buy new gaskets for the diff covers. But I should be able to do it for 150. So in 3 hours of work I'll make $113 an hour working on my truck. I will also know it's done right. Lol once I figure out the axle fluid level, and if I can reuse my gaskets.

1. Still wondering are the rent and rear axle cover gaskets removable?

2. Where should the fluid level be on front and rear axle? I checked rear and fluid was almost 1/2 inch down from bottom of fill plug hole.

Edited July 11, 2021 by Adamace1

Z45 · July 11, 2021

The dealers got a new tool for changing axle, it sucks out the fluid. A friends kid got a job as "Lube Tech" at the GM dealer, Said he can do 2 per hour, asked what lube they put i? Says don't know, comes out of a hose connected to a tank in the oil room. Easy money.

Edited July 11, 2021 by elcamino

Z45 · July 11, 2021

Quote

I checked rear and fluid was almost 1/2 inch down from bottom of fill plug hole.

That may the spec, some say not to overfill and leave it below the fill hole.

When they fill the axles in the axle plant, no one is measuring it out. A tool is programmed to fill with a certain amount and it shuts off. If they let the operator make that decision he might fill it to the max and cost the company money.

Edited July 11, 2021 by elcamino

Adamace1 · July 13, 2021

On 7/11/2021 at 12:37 PM, elcamino said:

That may the spec, some say not to overfill and leave it below the fill hole.

When they fill the axles in the axle plant, no one is measuring it out. A tool is programmed to fill with a certain amount and it shuts off. If they let the operator make that decision he might fill it to the max and cost the company money.

Yea thats what I can't find out. Where the fluid Leven should be on my front and rear axle. Tried searching on here, on Google, on YouTube. Its a mystery