Oil Pan Removal 2004 Ram 1500 4x4

[Free Spirit]

Hello everyone, I'm fairly new to this. I have a 2004 Ram 1500 4x4 and had to replace the oil pump, which calls for the pan removal. I have the Dodge repair manual and followed on how to remove pan. As it turns out, this had to be a non 4x4 because you cannot get the oil pan all the way off on a 4x4. I was able to get the pan down enough to be able to remove the oil pump drain out and thereby able to get the pan gasket off also. I also saw that my rear main was leaking, which required the oil pan to be removed. So my question is, is there anyone out there that has removed the oil pan from a 2004 Ram 1500 4x4 w/ 5.7L motor?

 

[kevkev]

I have. You have to drop the front axle.Use a jack and blocks of wood to lower it enough to clear the pickup tube. Not too bad of a job.Take your time. Plan a weekend.

 

[jws123]

Also to cahage the rear main seal you need to pull the transmission dont know of any other way.

 

[BigDaddy02RAM]

I had to remove that little cross member to slide mine out. It was still tough though.

 

[BigDaddy02RAM]

Put a jack underneath the harmonic balancer with blocks high enough to touch it.
Loosen the 2 motor mounts on each side and gently raise the motor. Just enough for it to slide through.

 

[MacAttack_14]

Put a jack underneath the harmonic balancer with blocks high enough to touch it.
Loosen the 2 motor mounts on each side and gently raise the motor. Just enough for it to slide through.

Old post but I may be looking at doing this myself. If I understand correctly, the front diff is connected to the motor mounts somehow. So would unbolting the motor mounts and lifting by the balancer also raise the diff, defeating the purpose? Two things:
1. I would fear putting that much stress on the crank and/or front seal.
2. Is there a chassis service manual available for our trucks? Not the lame Chilton's books, but like for my '71 Cutlass, I have a CSM from 1971 that I couldn't do without.
3. The reason for the above is that, although I understand most of how everything bolts together, things get a little complicated in the motor mount / front diff area and would like some clear exploded views with the little arrow things that show what bolts to what.

Just some thoughts. I probably won't get to the until summer. And I know the MAWs (might as well's) are going to get me. Like, might as well do the front struts and possibly the CVs and intermediate shafts while under there. And oh heck, why not the brakes?! Sigh...

 

[DILLIGAF]

Easiest way to remove an oil pan on these ram is installing a 6" lift kit

 

[Later2u]

Here are a couple of pages out of the factory manual to hopefully help.

 

[MacAttack_14]

Here are a couple of pages out of the factory manual to hopefully help.

Many thanks, Later. Is the manual available online?

 

[MacAttack_14]

Easiest way to remove an oil pan on these ram is installing a 6" lift kit

I'll bet that's true!

 

[Later2u]

Many thanks, Later. Is the manual available online?

PM me your email for a Dropbox link.