freightliner PE116DC, Maintenance Manual

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contacts the base; do not overtighten. See Table
5 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 5, Meritor Drive Axle Recommended Lubricant
5. 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
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. See
Table 6 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. 5 .
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)
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 6, Meritor Drive Axle Lubricant Capacities
6.2 Install and tighten the fill plug 35 lbf·ft (47
N·m).
7. 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.
8. 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.
Rear Axle
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