OK we know the Chevy and the Dodge have the same 11.5 AAM rear end behind each of the diesels. Why is it my Chevy's rear end paint is still perfect while the less than a year old Dodge's rear end is all rusted looking. Im suspencting Dodge uses very cheap paint to paint it while the Chevys was much better.


WHY!!!!!!!!!????????

 

soumds about right, my chevy's never flaked or rusted after 135,000 mile. My dodge with 21,000 miles is already showing a little rust

 

im sorry but this is where dodge leave a bad taste in my mouth. hopefully the new management will fix some of these stupid things that make people think badly about the dodge brand.....

 

Chevy also installed a Fill and DRAIN plug on the unit.. Dodge has a single fill hole. DOesn't matter, I have a PML cover but I thought that was weird as well!

 

where is the drain plug? i havent even serviced the rear end in the chevy yet so i havent look that close other than looking to see if it was rusted like the dodge. i know the dodge has a 3/4 drive plug while the chevy has a bolt of some size on the fill plug.

 

Mine is 1-1/2 yrs old and still looks new. But the rear end in my Titan rusted quickly, also.

 

Mine is 3 years old, with almost 42k miles on it, and it still looks new. I do agree though, a drain plug as well as a fill plug would have been nice.
Scott

 

My was orange by 4K. Changed the diff fluid at 5K (nasty, milky looking stuff), cleaned it up and repainted. It's been fine since then. Not a hint of orange.

I just assumed the thing was getting too hot from towing.

 

After repainting mine several times I installed the PML. No more worries!
Can't speak for the duramax but I also had to repaint the diff cover on my '98 Chevy C1500 couple of times.

My guess is people actually work their Dodges whereas the Duramaxes are boulevard cruisers.

MikeyB

 

My 14 bolt chevy truck is rusted bad, I think it just depends on where its used. We see alot of salt in winters and Ive never taken a water hose to that truck since it was new in 2000. My 04' ctd gets washed about once a week and I just hose off the undercarrige every time and both f/r axles look brand new.(the 04' is my plow truck too)

 

Some of it is the quality of paint....more of the issue relates to operating temps. Under no-load at freeway speeds, my diff will hit 170-180. That's WITH a Mag-Hytec cover in 110F summer heat. Towing at freeway speeds will increase the temps significantly. Sorry, I don't have any diff temp numbers for towing.

Tony

 

I'd bet the quality of paint does have something to do with it, but I's also bet the break-in fluid has MORE to do with it in cases where people do more towing and actually work the truck's diffs harder.

I can go on to say that I KNOW it has to do with the break-in fluid BECAUSE I sent in an oil analysis when I changed out my diff fluids. The results of the analysis suggested that the visconsity of the stock fluids was VERY LOW, operating temps broke it down VERY quickly.

I bet the oil you find in a can of sardines would hold up better than the factory break-in fluids. For those who tow, the 15K factory recommended interval for changing out the diff fluids is too long a period to wait to change it out.

CD

 

I had the same issue with my F350

 

Haha, yeah! I second that! (of course, Ive yet to so much as slide my hitch in the receiver-shes still a towing virgin...)

 

Yeah. The break-in fluid is ghastly. I have been towing the same load up the same hills in the same heat after changing the fluid, and the diff cover hasn't a hint of orange now.