Hey Guys,

I'm ready to change transmission, differential and transfer case fluids. (23K miles). I don't get a warm fuzzy feeling when talking to the service advisors at either of the dealerships I use. They quoted me $99 per axle, $119 for the transmission and $99 for the transer case. A bit pricey in my book. Short of doing it myself are there any good options in North Dallas?

This website is like a second home to me. Thanks in advance.

gdnvl

 

Gordonville,

The quick change place, Hogans I believe, on South 75 between Park St. and Larmar St. in Sherman will do it. The only problem....all of the fluids and additives and gaskets have to come for Mopar. The guy at the quick change place said he would do my differentials for $30 if I got the parts. Since it takes so long, he wanted to do it at closing time so he wouldn't tie up his racks.
Dodge is not cheap, but Hoyte is cheaper than down here around Dallas. If you go there, be sure a young feller by the name of Justin does the work. What I've had done there, he done right.

CR

 

No new gaskets are needed, you will just reuse what came on your truck.

cost me just over $100 to do everything with Redline

 

$500 for my truck here in Indy

 

Glad I decided to do it myself...I just payed $95 for oil at the dealer and did my transfer case..6 speed and both diffs ....in US dollars thats only about70 or 75 bucks...all were easy to change and to avoid mess i pulled the skid plate to do the transfer case..the dealer even threw in a small tube of RTV silicone to reseal the tranny cover...taking off all covers I found quite abit of small chips and grey paste breakin metals in everything..wish i could have got into the transfer case to do the same...whole operation only took me about 90 mins from front to back...good peace of mind at 16000miles/ 21000 km...especially since the manual said it didnt need to be changed...perhaps now the drive train is broken in...that might be true

 

Thanks for the feedback.

I went ahead and dropped my truck off at Huffines in Plano for the fluid changes. I needed to have the transmission recalls completed anyway. The 15K service there is $500. They are giving me a 10% discount since I asked for it. I feel like I'm wasting a couple hundred dollars, but I'm writing it off to backing up my warranty. If anything happens I can point to my having my truck serviced by Dodge.

I think I'll let Dodge do the changes this time and I'll do them myself the next time.

Anyone have any thoughts regarding my waiting to 23K to change the rear diff? I haven't hauled anything heavier than a 16 ft flatbed and that was only occasionally almos all my miles are highway. I missed the 15K mile recommendation.

Thanks again for the feedback.

Gdnvl

 

15k recommendation?? Oops....I'm at 31k and haven't done it! What are the implications? I've never changed the differential fluid in any of the trucks I've ever owned. Though they were all gasers, does it make a difference with a diesel?

 

I can't imagine that it makes that much difference. Probably a way to sell more services. Any time that i have ever changed diff. oil it was as clean looking as what I replaced it with.

 

Yeah, I usually wait around 50-60K miles to change axle fluid. Now if the axle tubes have been submerged in mud or water, I would definitely change them much more frequently.

 

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but my front diff fluid had lots of sparklies in it. Rear looked ok. I'm glad I did mine at 18k.

 

there seems to be alot of dfference in the way the diff oils etc look when changed...i wonder why that is...towing vs. not towing or just a lousy setup initially causing dirty oil during breakin??

 

Here's what my diffs looked like when I changed the oil in the for the first time at just under 50,000 miles. VERY little amount of glitter in either one, looks like new. and I don't have any noise coming from the rear.(or the trucks rear )


http://community.webshots.com/album/74931219DCheXG

 

Good shots. Clean as whistle.

I changed mine at 35k miles on my 02' and didn't see any shaving or debris.

-CM

 

I do the diffs and the transfer case at the first oil change. That way if there are any comtaminents or metal residue from the factory you get it out right away.
This is my 4th Dodge and have found sparklies more than once.

After the first time I change it about every 25K along with the trans.....
IMO its just cheap insurance.

 

Nice pics, I'm thinken now that Im @ 5K I'm gonna take that cheap insurance also.

Had the rear end vib so it couldn't hurt anything 'cept my wallet.