getting ready to change the rear end lube and I'm running into a problem.

Want to use the felpro gasket but there are different part numbers.

Autozone says rds 55341

advance says rds 55081 or rds 55341.

Felpro catalog says rds55081 for 7.5 ring gear but the picture looks wrong

My housing cover looks like the rds55081 (curved on sides)

But my tag reads 73758E11

2:73 ratio 7.5 ring gear
built may 11, 1998 which would be consistent with my build date

So anyone come across this?

 

Pictures on parts sites often have a little disclaimer that the picture is for reference only and the actual part may be different.

Good luck...

 

Agree, that's why I'm looking at pictures on the Fel_Pro site not the parts store. I would expect those to be accurate. I'd post them but I'm still a probie.

Also the Fel-Pro Site states the 55341 is for an 8.8 and the 55081 is for a 7.5 in the description. The rear cover shape and tag both indicate it is a 7.5, which would be correct in a v6 car.

Checked Oreilly Auto and they say 55081.

What sucks is if you open the box it can't be returned. So I either pay to look at it or rely on pictures.

Or maybe I should just use rtv and no gasket like the factory shop manual.

 

Just wanted to update this in case someone finds this thread through the search function.

Went back to Autozone and went through their computer process. Got 2 different results.

Search1:
Entered vehicle data, selected "axle housing gasket" and it returned the RDS 55341 part number.

Search 2: Entered vehicle data, selected "differential housing gasket" and was prompted to select 7.5 or 8.8 rear end.
7.5 returns not available
8.8 returns rds55341

Running each part number as a part number search the system returns notes stating
rds55341 is for 8.8
and
rds55081 is for 7.5.

Read the fine print on the rds 55341 and it said for 8.8.

As they could not get the gasket they refunded the purchase.

 

NAPA was the only one I could find that had the 7.5 gasket.

Matthew

 

Oreilly had it. But they pull up the 8.8 on the in store system. Funny their website gets it right. I asked for it by fel-pro's part number and they had it for $7.49.

 

I just use RTV silicone (the thick black stuff) and make my own gasket... works like a champ. Never had a leak in the rear, and used it on everything, mustang, ranger, and explorer. Trick to it is get everything really clean, using a razor to scrape off the old silicone, then right before re-assembly, just put a good bead around diff. cover. I make a full circle around the bolt holes, and the important thing is to make sure you have 100% coverage all the way around. Once back on the car, tighten the bolts just enough to make silicone come out the sides. You are ready to add fluid, and can tighten more later on if you feel the need, but it shouldn't matter. I have never had a leak doing it this way.