Meritor Axles
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.
- Park the vehicle on level ground, apply the parking brakes, and chock the front tires.
- Clean the area around the fill plug, then remove the fill plug.
- Place a drain pan under the drain 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, replace the filter.
- Remove the axle oil filter using a suitable filter strap
wrench (see Fig.) and discard it.
Fig. 1, Meritor Axle Oil Filter Removal
- Using recommended drive axle lubricant (see Table.), coat the
face of the gasket on the new oil filter.
Table 1, Meritor Drive Axle Recommended Lubricant
Meritor Drive Axle Recommended Lubricant
Lubricant Type
Ambient Temperature
Viscosity Grade
Meritor Specification
Non-Extended Drain Lubricants
10°F (–12.2°C) and up1
85W–140
0–76–A
–15°F (–26.1°C) and up1
80W–140
0–76–B
–15°F (–26.1°C) and up1
80W–90
0–76–D
–40°F (–40°C) and up1
75W–90
0–76–E
–40°F (–40°C) to 35°F (2°C)
75W
0–76–J
–40°F (–40°C) and up1
75W–140
0–76–L
Extended Drain Lubricants
–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 the ambient temperature.
Table 1, Meritor Drive Axle Recommended Lubricant
- Install the filter over the adapter, and tighten the filter one full turn after the gasket contacts the base; do not overtighten.
Note: There may be about one pint (0.5 L) of lubricant remaining in the filter.
- Remove the axle oil filter using a suitable filter strap
wrench (see Fig.) and discard it.
- Clean the fill and drain plugs as follows. Change them
if necessary.
- 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.
- 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.
- Meritor recommends plugs with elements having a minimum pickup capacity of 1.5 pounds (0.7 kg) of low-carbon steel. Each time the oil is changed, replace any magnetic drain plug that does not meet the minimum pickup capacity.
- Install the drain plug(s) and tighten to 35 lbf·ft (47 N·m).
- Fill the axle with recommended lubricant as follows. For
lubricant capacities, see Table. (single axles) or Table. (tandem axles). See Table. for recommended
lubricant.
- 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.
- Check the fluid level; see Fig..
- Install and tighten the fill plug 35 lbf·ft (47
N·m).
Table 2, Meritor Drive Axle Lubricant Capacities for Single Axles
Meritor Drive Axle Lubricant Capacities for Single Axles
Axle Model
Capacity:1 Pints (liters)
RS–23–160
39.5 (18.7)
RS–23–161
37.2 (17.6)
RS–23–186
47.3 (22.4)
RS–25–160
37 (17)
RS–26–185
46.0 (22.0)
RS–30–185
46.0 (22.0)
RS–30–380
58.2 (27.5)
RS–38–380
53.1 (25.1)
- Quantities listed are approximate and include 1 pint (0.5 liter) for each wheel end and with the drive pinion at 3 degrees.
Table 2, Meritor Drive Axle Lubricant Capacities for Single Axles
Table 3, Meritor Drive Axle Lubricant Capacities for Tandem Axles
Meritor Drive Axle Lubricant Capacities for Tandem Axles
Axle Model Axle Position Capacity:1 Pints (liters) RT–40–145
Forward
30.2 (14.3)
Rear
25.8 (12.2)
RT–40–145P
Forward
30.2 (14.3)
Rear
25.8 (12.2)
RT–40–160
Forward
39.1 (18.5)
Rear
34.4 (16.3)
RT–44–145
RT–44–145P
Forward
29.3 (13.9)
Rear
25.1 (11.9)
RT–46–160
Forward
39.1 (18.5)
Rear
34.4 (16.3)
RT–46–164EH/P
Forward
38.0 (18.0)
Rear
33.0 (15.0)
RT–50–160
Forward
38.0 (18.0)
Rear
33.0 (15.0)
RT–52–185
Forward
56.1 (26.5)
Rear
36.1 (17.1)
RT–58–185
Forward
56.1 (26.5)
Rear
36.1 (17.1)
- Quantities listed are approximate and include 1 pint (0.5 liter) for each wheel end and with the drive pinion at 3 degrees.
Table 3, Meritor Drive Axle Lubricant Capacities for Tandem Axles
-
Correct (lube level at bottom of fill hole)
-
Incorrect (lube level below fill hole)
Fig. 2, Axle Lubricant Level Check
- Whenever the interaxle differential housing has been drained, add an additional 2 pints (0.9 L) of the recommended lubricant directly into the interaxle differential housing.
- Remove the chocks, then drive the vehicle, unloaded, 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.
Important: If using synthetic lubricant, the lubricant change interval is extended to 100,000 miles (160 000 km). On axles with a pump and filter system, the filter change interval is 100,000 miles (160 000 km).
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.