Rear Axle - GMC Sierra Instruction Manual

382 Vehicle Care
What to Use
Refer to Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0 461 to determine what
kind of lubricant to use.

Rear Axle

When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly
check rear axle fluid unless a leak is
suspected or an unusual noise is
heard. A fluid loss could indicate a
problem. Have it inspected and
repaired.
All axle assemblies are filled by
volume of fluid during production.
They are not filled to reach a certain
level. When checking the fluid level
on any axle, variations in the
readings can be caused by factory
fill differences between the minimum
and the maximum fluid volume.
Also, if a vehicle has just been
driven before checking the fluid
level, it may appear lower than
normal because fluid has traveled
out along the axle tubes and has
not drained back to the sump area.
Therefore, a reading taken
five minutes after the vehicle has
been driven will appear to have a
lower fluid level than a vehicle that
has been stationary for an hour or
two. The rear axle assembly must
be supported on a flat, level surface
to get a true reading.
How to Check Lubricant
2500HD with 6.0L
I n f o r ma t i o n P r o v i d e d b y :
All Other Series and Engines
To get an accurate reading, the
vehicle should be on a level
surface.
For all 4.3L and 5.3L 1500
Series applications, the proper
level is 1.0 mm to 19.0 mm
(0.04 in to 0.7 in) below the
bottom of the fill hole, located on
the rear axle. Add only enough
fluid to reach the proper level.
For 6.2L 1500 Series
applications, the proper level is
from 15 mm to 40 mm (0.6 in to
1.6 in) below the bottom of the