Freightliner Cascadia. Manual - part 18

35–00 Safety Precautions

Safety Precautions in this section apply to all
procedures within this group.

DANGER

When working on the vehicle, shut down the en-
gine, set the parking brake, and chock the tires.
Before working under the vehicle, always place
jack stands under the frame rails to ensure the
vehicle can not drop. Failure to follow these steps
could result in serious personal injury or death.

35–01 Axle Lubricant and Filter

Change, and Magnetic
Strainer Cleaning

NOTICE

When operating under adverse conditions, it may
be necessary to change the axle lubricant at more
frequent intervals than listed in the scheduled
maintenance tables. Failure to do so could result
in axle damage.

For all axles, including tandem drive axles and two-
speed axles, perform the applicable procedures
under the heading, "All Axle Models." For a two-
speed axle with a shift unit, also change the shift unit
lubricant; see under the heading, "Two-Speed Axles
With Shift Unit."

All Axle Models

Detroit

™

IMPORTANT: On Detroit axles, the oil change
interval for long haul vehicles can be extended
to 500,000 miles (800 000 km) for axles with
weight ratings of 34,000 to 40,000 lb (15 000 to
18 000 kg) using synthetic lubricant if a lubricant
analysis shows adequate quality. Oil must be
changed at least every four years, and more
often if the axle is exposed to high temperatures
and steep grades.

Park the vehicle on a level surface, shut down
the engine, and set the parking brake. Chock the
tires.

Clean the fill plug and the area around it. In the
axle housing rear cover, remove the plug from
the oil fill hole. See

Fig. 1

12/07/2010

f350509a

A. Front View

B. Rear View

Axle Breather

Breather Hose

Temperature Sensor Port

Oil Fill Plug

Fig. 1, Detroit Tandem Axle (forward axle shown)

Rear Axle

35/1

CAUTION

Be careful when draining the axle oil. It may be
very hot, and could cause personal injury if it con-
tacts the skin.

Place a drain pan under the rear axle drain plug.
Drain the oil when it is warm. At this tempera-
ture, the oil will run more freely and ensure that
the axle is flushed.

Clean the fill and drain plugs. Change them if
necessary.

4.1

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.

4.2

Clean away the collected material depos-
ited on each pole. Magnets will rapidly
lose their effectiveness as collected mate-
rial bridges the gap between the two
poles.

4.3

After the first oil is changed, inspect the
drain plug each time for large quantities
of metal particles.

4.4

After cleaning, install the drain plug(s)
and tighten to 30 lbf·ft (41 N·m).

Fill the axle with the recommended lubricant.
See

Table 1

for recommended drive axle lubri-

cants and

Table 2

for lubricant capacities.

NOTE: Some Detroit axles have a small
tapped and plugged hole near and below the
housing oil fill hole. This smaller hole is for a
lubricant temperature indicator only, and
should not be used as a fill or level hole.

5.1

Fill the axle through the oil fill hole. Lubri-
cant should be level with the bottom of
the oil fill hole. To check fluid level, see

Fig. 2

5.2

Install and tighten the fill plug 30 lbf·ft (41
N·m).

Detroit Drive Axle Lubricants

IMPORTANT: Lubricant used in Detroit rear axles must

meet Mercedes-Benz specification 235.20 (mineral) or

235.8 (synthetic). Mobil Delvac

™

Gear Oil A 80W-90 and

Mobilube

™

HD-A Plus 80W-90 meet specification 235.20.

Mobil Delvac 1 Gear Oil 75W-90 and Mobilube 1 SHC

75W-90 meet specification 235.8. For more product

information, see http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.

Type

Ambient Temperature

SAE

Viscosity

Grade

Mineral Oil

–15°F (–26.1°C) and up

†

80W–90

Synthetic Oil

–40°F (–40°C) and up

†

75W–90

Detroit rear axles do not require the use of friction modifiers.

†

There is no upper limit on the ambient temperature, but axle sump tem-

perature must never exceed 250°F (121°C).

Table 1, Detroit Drive Axle Lubricants

Detroit Rear Axle Lubricant Capacity

Axle

Oil Capacity:

Quarts (liters)

Forward-Rear

15.9 (15.0)

Single and Rearmost Tandem

10.6 (10.0)

Actual oil capacity might vary slightly depending on gear ratio.

Table 2, Detroit Rear Axle Lubricant Capacity

Meritor®

IMPORTANT: On Meritor axles, the oil change
interval for Schedule III vehicles is extended to

f350061a

08/17/2009

A. Correct (lube level at bottom of fill hole)
B. Incorrect (lube level below fill hole)

Fig. 2, Axle Lubricant Level Inspection

Rear Axle

35/2

500,000 miles (800 000 km) for axles using syn-
thetic lubricant with a pump and filter system.

On single drive axles so equipped, the traction equal-
izer may slip or stick. When this happens, the driver
will hear intervals of shrill noises when the vehicle is
driven at low speed or makes sharp turns. Use a
"limited-slip friction modifier" to correct this slip/stick
condition. Add 1.6 ounces (35 mL) of additive for
each pint (0.5 L) of lube capacity.

For all GL-5 oils, add one of the following limited-slip
friction modifiers:

• Lubrizol No. 6178 (Lubrizol Corporation)
• DSL-178 (Guardsman Products)
• Equa-Torque No. 2411 (Sta-Lube Corporation)
• Equa-Torque No. 2414 (Sta-Lube Corporation)

Table 3

Park the vehicle on a level surface, shut down
the engine, and set the parking brake. Chock the
tires.

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.

If equipped with an oil pump, use a suitable filter
strap wrench to remove the axle oil filter. 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.

Using the recommended drive axle lubricant,
coat the face of the gasket on the new oil filter, if
it was replaced. Install the filter over the adapter,
and tighten the filter one full turn after the gasket
contacts the base; do not overtighten. See

Table

for recommended lubricants.

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

Clean the fill and drain plugs. Change them if
necessary.

5.1

For magnetic plugs, use a piece of key
stock or any other convenient steel slug

f350119a

05/27/93

Fig. 3, Meritor Axle Oil Filter Removal

Rear Axle

35/3

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).

Fill the axle with recommended lubricant. See

Table 4

for drive axle lubricant capacities.

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. Lubricant
should be level with the bottom of the oil
fill hole. To check fluid level, see

Fig. 2

Meritor Drive Axle Lubricant Capacities

Axle Model

Capacity:

pt (L)

Single Drive, Single Reduction

†

RS–21–160

39.5 (18.7)

RS–23–160

39.5 (18.7)

RS–23–161

37.2 (17.6)

RS–23–185

47.3 (22.4)

RS–25–160

37.2 (17.6)

Tandem Drive, Single Reduction

RT–40–145, RT–40–145A,

RT–40–145P

Forward

30.2 (14.3)

Rear

25.8 (12.2)

RT–44–145, RT–44–145P

Forward

29.3 (13.9)

Rear

25.1 (11.9)

Meritor Drive Axle Lubricant Capacities

Axle Model

Capacity:

pt (L)

RT–46–160, RT–46–160P

Forward

39.1 (18.5)

Rear

34.4 (16.3)

Quantities listed are approximate. Fill axle until lubricant is level with bot-

tom of fill hole with vehicle on level ground.

†

See "Traction Equalizer Additives" in the text.

Table 4, Meritor Drive Axle Lubricant Capacities

6.2

Install and tighten the fill plug 35 lbf·ft (47
N·m).

Whenever the interaxle differential housing has
been drained, add an additional 2 pints (0.9 L) of
the recommended lubricant directly into the inter-
axle differential housing.

Remove the chocks, then drive the vehicle, un-
loaded, for 1 or 2 miles (2 or 3 km) at speeds
not to exceed 25 mph (40 km/h), to thoroughly
circulate lubricant throughout the carrier and
housing assemblies.

Dana® Spicer®

IMPORTANT: The use of friction modifiers is not
approved in Dana drive axles.

Park the vehicle on a level surface, shut down
the engine, and set the parking brake. Chock the
tires.

Clean the fill plug and the area around it. In the
axle housing rear cover, remove the plug from
the oil fill hole (or standpipe, if installed in the oil
fill hole). See

Fig. 4

Place a drain pan under the rear axle drain plug.
See

Fig. 4

. Drain the oil at normal operating

temperature, 150 to 200°F (65 to 93°C). At this
temperature, the oil will run more freely and en-
sure that the axle is flushed.

NOTE: Some tandem drive axles are equipped
with a cylindrical magnetic strainer, located
below the lube pump on the front of the power
divider cover. All rear axles are fitted with mag-
netic drain and fill plugs.

At each axle oil change, remove and clean the
magnetic strainer, if equipped. See

Fig. 5

4.1

Remove the magnetic strainer from the
power divider cover.

Rear Axle

35/4

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