I need some help on 8-1/4 dif

[jessipup]

Now this may sound and be simple, but I do not want to mess something up. So I seek those who know more than I.
I have what I think to be is an 8.25 rear diff on my 74 sat . I removed the cover drained the fluid cleaned every thing up and went to refill. My book says to replace 4 & 1/2 pints. If I have done my math right that would be 2 quarts and 8 oz of fluid. So I put in that amount. My books also say to fill it to within 1/4 of the fill hole (which is on the right side of the front case and not in the cover as I would expect). When I put in 2 qt-8oz I could not feel the oil any where near the fill hole so I hept adding until I could get oil on my finger when I stuck it in to check. Well It took almost 3qts or right around 2.75 qt to get it to register. So then I get the bright idea that it is supported on jack stands under the frame and the diff may be lower due to suspension sag. I jacked it back up and moved stanrs to under the leaf spring mount to hopefully load the suspension and level out the diff. Thinking that if I have overfilled now the excwess will drain out the fill hole. Well you guessed it--- none drained out the fill hole.
I am obviously missing something here...besides my brain.

Please advise.

Thank You for your time and help.

 

[Cranky]

The 8 3/4 fill plug is in the front area of the housing. The 8 1/4 will have a removable cover on the back and the plug is on that.

 

[jessipup]

It has a removeable cover with 10 bolts but no acess hole in the cover. It looks just like the pic you provided of the 8 1/4 ( acutually I think it was one of your pics that helped me indentify it. Thank you!) But up on the right side of the body there is a big threades plug I'd say about 3/4 of an inch with a square head that fits a 5/8 open end wrench.
It is a 74 rp23c4c108xxx and with a D34 transmission code that just says torqueflight E44 engine simple 318 2 bbl and no specific rear end code that I can find on the fender tag.

Hope this info helps

And Thank You very much.
Dennis

 

[Cranky]

If you can, take a pic of it and post it but it sounds like an 8 1/4. Not sure and I don't know if the ones back then were set up like that. The 8 1/4 that's in my 95 Dakota has a pull out plug in the cover....other words, it's a rubber push in.

 

[jessipup]

Well Cranky you sure are right about that. I've got 2 Dakotas a 98 sport with the little 2000CC 4 banger and a 07 4 door with a 3.7liter. And they both have what looks like a 8 1/4 with a push plug. And my satellite looks almost exactly like that but the cover is not quite as flat (but almost) where the push plug is ans it seems to be about 9/10th the size. I do have the owners manual who says 4 & 1/2 pint and a after market seervice book that only tells the type of fluid but not the amount. I'll shoot some pics but I will have to email because I have not figured out hoe to post here. Any thoughts on the fluid level?

Thank You

Dennis

 

[jessipup]

photo

ok lets see if this works

 

[Patrick]

The 8 3/4 fill plug is in the front area of the housing. The 8 1/4 will have a removable cover on the back and the plug is on that.

60's and 70's 8.25's don't have a fill plug in the cover as in your picture.

 

[Patrick]

It has a removeable cover with 10 bolts but no acess hole in the cover. It looks just like the pic you provided of the 8 1/4 ( acutually I think it was one of your pics that helped me indentify it. Thank you!) But up on the right side of the body there is a big threades plug I'd say about 3/4 of an inch with a square head that fits a 5/8 open end wrench.
It is a 74 rp23c4c108xxx and with a D34 transmission code that just says torqueflight E44 engine simple 318 2 bbl and no specific rear end code that I can find on the fender tag.

Hope this info helps

And Thank You very much.
Dennis

In 73 I filled my 73 Charger 8.25 up to my finger and I noticed my vent plug stayed wet. So I drained it and put 2 1/2 quarts back in it. My vent pug has never been wet again. Over the years I've replaced about 6 wheel seals caused by the car sitting for years at a time, and that's it.

 

[jessipup]

so you think I should go back and pull a few ounces out, get it back to 2.5qt and call it good. And at that point I will not mess anything up.

Thank You

Dennis

 

[Meep-Meep]

For proper oil level you should stick your pinky in past the first knuckle and when you bend it you will touch the oil. I use that rule for everything and it seems to work. If you have about a third of the ring gear submerged in oil as checked on a level surface you should be just fine.

 

[jessipup]

I want to thank every one who took thier time to help me out.

Thank You

Dennis