The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop How much Differential fluid in my 65 c30?

Does anyone know the correct amount of fluid for the differential? Thanks

Pull the plug on the side of the of the 3rd member & pour in the lube until it runs out the hole, then it's full.....joe

Thanks Joe!

That's about 2 1/2 quarts, IIRC. The fluid level should come to almost the level of the axle tubes, (the level of the fill plug) so a little of it runs down the tubes in a turn to keep the axle bearings lubricated. Some of the big rigs I worked on had seals on the axle shafts inboard of the hub bearings, and we packed them with heavy grease like front wheel bearings periodically, but the 1/2 and 3/4 tons used gear lube from the center housing for rear wheel bearing lubrication.
Jerry

I was leaking from my Pinion Gear Diff seal area. What socket takes that castle nut off? Seems to be aroun 1 5/8 but a regular socket wont get in there.

I've had to machine the outside diameter of a socket on occasion to make it fit inside a pinion yoke. Snap-on makes some thinwall sockets for such applications, but it's simpler, and less expensive to chuck a Taiwan-made socket in a lathe and take a little off the OD to get some clearance. Make sure all the crud and road dirt is cleaned out around the nut- - - -sometimes there's enough dirt built up inside the yoke to keep the socket from fitting. I assume you've removed the cotter pin from the castle nut, if it has one installed? Sometimes a leaky pinion seal is a symptom of worn bearings, allowing the yoke to wobble up and down in the seal. Before you go to the effort of replacing the seal, tighten the pinion nut pretty snug, and see if you can feel any roughness in the bearings as you turn the yoke. It might be necessary to dig a little deeper to cure the problem.
Jerry