2.
Remove the axle carrier fill plug. Then remove
the drain plug from the bottom of the housing.
Completely drain the lubricant while the unit is
warm, to allow the lubricant to drain faster.
On tandem-drive axles, it is also necessary to
remove the plug at the bottom of the interaxle
differential housing to drain that lubricant.
3.
If equipped with an oil pump, remove the axle oil
filter. Use a suitable filter strap wrench; see
Fig.
3
. Discard the old filter.
NOTE: There may be about one pint (0.5 L) of
lubricant remaining in the filter. Be careful not to
spill it when removing the filter.
4.
Using the recommended drive axle lubricant,
coat the face of the gasket on the new oil filter, if
one was removed. Install the filter over the
adapter, and tighten the filter one full turn after
the gasket contacts the base; do not overtighten.
See
Table 3
for recommended lubricants.
5.
Clean the fill and drain plugs as follows. Change
them if necessary.
Meritor Drive Axle Recommended Lubricant
Recommended
Lubricant Type
Ambient Temperature
Lubricant SAE
Viscosity Grade
Meritor Specification
Synthetic Gear Oil
–40°F (–40°C) and Up
*
75W–90
0–76–N
–40°F (–40°C) and Up
*
75W–140
0–76–M
*
There is no upper limit on these outside temperatures, but axle sump temperature must never exceed 250°F (121°C).
Table 3, Meritor Drive Axle Recommended Lubricant
5.1
For magnetic plugs, use a piece of key
stock or any other convenient steel slug
to short the two magnetic poles and divert
the magnetic field.
5.2
Check the drain plug for metal particles
every 100,000 miles (160 000 km). Clean
away the collected material deposited on
each pole. Magnets will rapidly lose their
effectiveness as collected material
bridges the gap between the two poles.
5.3
Each time the oil is changed, replace any
magnetic drain plug that does not meet
the minimum pickup capacity.
NOTE: Meritor recommends plugs with ele-
ments having a minimum pickup capacity of
1.5 pounds (0.7 kg) of low-carbon steel.
5.4
After cleaning, install the drain plug(s)
and tighten to 35 lbf·ft (47 N·m).
6.
Fill the axle with recommended lubricant as fol-
lows. See
Table 4
for drive axle lubricant capaci-
ties.
NOTE: Some Meritor axles have a small
tapped and plugged hole near and below the
housing lubricant fill hole. This smaller hole
is for a lubricant temperature indicator only,
and should not be used as a fill or level
hole.
6.1
With the vehicle on a level surface, fill the
axle through the oil fill hole. Allow a few
minutes for the oil to flow into the axle.
Lubricant should be level with the bottom
of the oil fill hole. To check fluid level, see
Fig. 2
.
6.2
Install and tighten the fill plug 35 lbf·ft (47
N·m).
f350119a
05/27/93
Fig. 3, Meritor Axle Oil Filter Removal
Rear Axle
35
35/3