What's The Rear End Capacity On An 04?

[MikeInCtown]

Doing a 100,000 mile service on my 04 1500 2wdwith the limited slip. The manual says to use 70-90 synthetic but doesn't list a capacity. A shop said 5 quarts but that seems WAY high. Searches here seem to say just over 2 quarts. Anyone know exactly? (manual says 1/2"- 1" below the fill hole is full.

[MS3DALE]

I'd have to double check the service manual,but I think 2.1 quarts is what they call for.

It is NOT 5 quarts.

[Zembonez]

8.5 Gallons.

 

Oh... wait. RICH was right!

[CapitalTruck]

I think it's 75w90 synthetic. Mine took a little over two quarts if I recall correctly

[C & A s Dad]

I think this is a 9.5" rear end. If so, it holds 5.5 Pts or 2 qts 24 ozs. Just be sure it is approx 5/8" below the fill hole.

 

One other thing, remove the fill plug BEFORE you begin. Sometimes they cannot be removed and once you have dropped the cover and drained the gear oil, you are in trouble.

 

The fill plug is a 3/8" drive but the problem is the hole is not very deep. You need a 3/8" male pull handle that does not have the rounded shoulders. It will get a better bite and help you pull the plug right out.

[MS3DALE]

Na Trey,It will have the 8.625" rear-end.

[C & A s Dad]

My bad.

 

The 8.6 will hold 4.3 Pts or 2 qts and 5 ozs.

[MikeInCtown]

Thanks guys for the answers. I guess I need to pick up 3 quarts later when I head to Summit Racing. They have some Red Line synthetic 75W-90 made for the limited slip applications. Also getting new belts to deal with that annoying sqeak i get when the engine is cold. They say the oe belt is good to 150k, but i guess that is wishful thinking.

 

BTW, I have an SLT with power everything and according to cross references I only have the 105 amp alternator. What would you have to have as options to have the higher amp one???

[redvett]

CAPACITIES

Engine, with filter..........6.0 quarts[1]

Cooling System, W/ FR & RR AC Initial Fill..........16.0 quarts

Cooling System, W/ Front AC Initial Fill..........14.0 quarts

Automatic Transmission, 4L60-E Initial Fill..........5.0 quarts

Automatic Transmission, Total Fill

4 speed 4L60-E..........11.0 quarts

Differential, with 8.25 ring gear Front..........3.0 pints

Differential, with 9.25 ring gear Front..........3.2 pints

Differential, with 10.50 ring gear Rear..........5.5 pints

Differential, with 11.50 ring gear Rear..........7.6 pints

Differential, with 8.60 ring gear Rear..........4.2 pints

Differential, with 9.50 ring gear Rear..........5.5 pints

Transfer Case,NP8..........4.0 pints

Transfer Case,NR3/NR4..........3.0 pints

Transfer Case,NVG 246-NP8..........4.0 pints

Transfer Case,NVG 261-NP2..........4.0 pints

Transfer Case,NVG 263-NP1..........4.0 pints

[MikeInCtown]

Shoot, one last question for you guys. I stopped off and got a new gasket today but forgot to ask about the torque specs on the rear end bolts. If anyone has the 04 manuals and an tell me I would appreciate it.

[CapitalTruck]

Bolts for cover = 30 lbs/ft

 

Fill plug = 24 lbs/ft

[MikeInCtown]

Just want to thank everyone for their help. Got done about an hour ago and aside from taking forever to fill, everything went just fine.

 

A few notes from my experience:

 

GM puts threadlock on the diff bolts. I was able to loosen initially with a ratchet, but thank goodness for cordless impact wrenches.

With the limited slip diff, there was lots of the clutch crap at the bottom of the drain pan after I poured the stuff into my jugs for disposal. Some was stuck to the magnet, but more adhered to the bottom of the drain pan. I made sure to wipe everything out of the diff that I could reach with a rag. (unless that is some additive that GM added to the OE fluid)

The scraper that Autozone sells for $6.99 is well worth the $. It has a razor blade end on it and cuts through the gasket material really quick.

I used RedLine synthetic oil and poured into a funnel with a flex hose. Took maybe a half hour to fill. if you can find a container from which to pump you will be way better off. I would not recommend a suction gun since it's so thick. (I had problems with the Autotrak II fluid in a bravada with a suction gun, but the gun may just have been a crappy one)

Just measure out the 2.15 quarts and then add maybe another 10th of a quart for loss in the funnel and floor because unless you are my 5 year old son, you won't be able to accurately get any type of measurement of fluid level with the truck level on the ground.

 

Thanks again guys!

[2000chevysilv]

it took me 3 bottles to fill up my differential

[pm26]

My bad.

 

The 8.6 will hold 4.3 Pts or 2 qts and 5 ozs.

 

I find it hard to believe that my '95 Nissan 4x4 V6 pickup rear end held 5.9 pints (almost 3 quarts) of gear oil. My 2006 Silverado pickup, which is much bigger and heavier, holds 4.3 pints (2.15 quarts)? Something is wrong here. I really believe that GM undersized the oil capacity of these differentials, especially for trucks with factory tow packages. So an aftermarket differential cover when towing is a really good idea as it increases the oil capacity and provides more efficient cooling. Aluminum dissipates heat at much faster rate than stamped steel, and cast in fins provide additional cooling.

[MikeInCtown]

My bad.

 

The 8.6 will hold 4.3 Pts or 2 qts and 5 ozs.

 

I find it hard to believe that my '95 Nissan 4x4 V6 pickup rear end held 5.9 pints (almost 3 quarts) of gear oil. My 2006 Silverado pickup, which is much bigger and heavier, holds 4.3 pints (2.15 quarts)? Something is wrong here. I really believe that GM undersized the oil capacity of these differentials, especially for trucks with factory tow packages. So an aftermarket differential cover when towing is a really good idea as it increases the oil capacity and provides more efficient cooling. Aluminum dissipates heat at much faster rate than stamped steel, and cast in fins provide additional cooling.

 

 

I don't tow but have hauled plenty of stuff and driven ~300,000 miles+ in GM trucks and have never personally seen a busted rear end let alone one that failed due to heat.