LOTS of posts since early 03 about 30 foot lbs shearing off differantial cover bolts.Most seem to torque by FEEL rather then use a torque wrench.Heck I just used a vacumn pump and sucked mine out.To heck with pulling the cover.Everthing sounded normal so why look.If it had a drain hole no one would look anyhow.

 

If it makes you feel better Jmac,

I ust almost the same thing happen last week on my truck on the front diff cover, I couldn't get the torque wrench to click on the bottom 3 bolts (and they were completely dry of any lube other than some blue loctite) and didn't shear the bolts off but I did go further than the others that did, I figured it's tight enough for now and I'll worry about it for the next diff service, maybe even put a fancy cover on like others here have done. And in case everyone is curious my torque wrench is a 3/8" 5-80ft/lbs wrench from MAC that is calibrated once per year so yes the calibration is correct...I too think Dodges apec of 30ft/lbs is out to lunch.

 

So 20# sounds better?

Jamie

 

sure...

 

For what it's worth Mag-Hytec diff cover for the rear axle on the 03 Dodge with an AA14-11.5 differential states 12-16 ft-lbs for their new stainless steel bolts. Everytime you torque a bolt it gets stretched and when you release it it does not come back exactly to it's new original length, ie it necks down slightly making it slightly weaker. For stock I would probably use 20 ft-lbs on a used bolt. You have 14 bolts and the rubberized seal with no positive pressure in the diffential. My 2 cents worth.

L8r,...............dogger

 

Can anyone please tell me where to get a vac pump, So i can suck the fluid out I rather do this then remove the diff cover at this point,
Than You any info will be appreciated

 

napa or any other tool/parts supplier... it is just a syphon gun... like a big syringe, or you can get the transfer type, that has 2 hoses and a few checkvalves...

 

OK got the new stock replacement bolt today and put it in at 20lbs and loosened and retorqued the rest on both diffs. I now have a new problem which I'll post.

thanks all

Jamie