97727 – Banks 11.5″ or 12″ 14-bolt AAM Ram-Air Rear Differential Cover
INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS
Part #s
19286, 19287, 19288
Banks Ram-Air® Differential Cover 2019+ Ram and 2020+ Chevy/GMC, with 11.5" or 12" 14-Bolt AAM Rear Axle
Please read through the following instructions thoroughly before starting your installation. If you have any questions please visit our Support Page.
- A power or manual driver
- Oil pan
- 3/8" Socket wrench and short extension
- Torque wrench
- 10mm socket
- 13mm socket
- 14mm socket
- Flathead screwdriver
- Cleaning rags
- Additional tools required for service:
- 12mm socket - drain plug
- 5mm hex key - sensor port plug
ATTENTION: FILL LEVEL
In some applications, our recommended fill level may not agree with the vehicle owner’s manual fill level. If this happens, honor the factory fill level, not Banks.
ATTENTION: SIGHT GLASS
The primary purpose of the sight glass is to view the clarity of the gear oil, not to measure the fill level. Generally, the sight glass will display the correct fill level. However, in some applications, the proper fill level may be above or below the middle of the sight glass. The sight glass may not indicate the proper level if the truck is lifted or lowered, including factory off-road or heavy duty suspension packages. Changes in the pinion angle will result in the oil level above or below the sight glass. This is why we recommend filling to your truck’s factory recommended fill level.
General Installation Practices
1. Before starting work, familiarize yourself with the installation procedure by reading all of the instructions.
2. Disconnect the negative (ground) cable from the battery (or batteries, if there are two) before beginning work.
3. When raising the vehicle, support it on properly weight-rated safety stands, ramps, or a commercial hoist. Follow the manufacturer’s safety precautions. Take care to balance the vehicle to prevent it from slipping or falling. When using ramps, be sure the front wheels are centered squarely on the topsides; put the transmission in park; set the hand brake; and place blocks behind the rear wheels.
⚠️ CAUTION! ⚠️
Do not use floor jacks to support the vehicle while working under it. Do not raise the vehicle onto concrete blocks, masonry, or any other item not intended specifically for this use.
4. During installation, keep the work area clean. Do not allow anything to
be dropped into the rear differential while performing the installation, as foreign objects will cause immediate damage upon start-up.
General Assembly
Removing the Stock Cover & Preparing the Banks Differential Cover
1. Your Banks Ram-Air Differential Cover should come with the sight glass and sensor port plug pre-installed. If it is not, install it now.
2. With your differential cover turned over, install the o-ring seal.
Spray a small amount of Amsoil Silicone Spray to help push the o-ring into the groove.
NOTE: The next step is for RAM trucks with sway bars only with the optional Sway Bar Spacer Kit PN: 19249-2.
If you do not have a sway bar, please continue to step five.
3. Remove the stock sway bar bolts highlighted in red.
4. Move the sway bar back and attach the new spacers (optional Sway Bar Spacer Kit PN: 19249-2) with the longer bolts, and hand-tighten them for now.
Repeat on the other side.
5. Remove the brake line bracket bolt and move it up and back, out of the way.
6. Remove the 14 bolts from your stock differential cover.
WARNING: Put an oil pan underneath because the oil will pour out!
NOTE: If your vehicle does NOT have a drain plug, remove the diff cover partially from the bottom to drain.
Allow the fluid to drain before removing the cover.
7. Use a 1/2″ socket to remove all bolts with the exception of these two marked in red.
Loosen them, but don’t remove them to allow for complete drainage.
8. Once drained, remove the last two bolts.
9. The surface must be completely clean and smooth before installing your new Banks Differential Cover.
If there is any silicone, scrape it off with a blade. Take care not to gouge the surface.
10. Use a clean shop rag to clean off any residue.
Installing the Banks Ram-Air Differential Cover
11. Add a little bit of gear oil to the o-ring.
12. By hand, install two or three bolts at the top of the Banks Differential Cover to hold it in place.
13. Swap out the old P-clamp that holds down the brake line for the new P-clamp.
14. Place a small amount of blue thread locker and hand thread them.
15. With a 10mm socket, tighten all the bolts around your differential cover.
16. Using the torque wrench, in a cross pattern like on a wheel, tighten the bolts down to 12ft-lbs.
Then tighten the sway bar bolts to 12ft-lbs.
17. Remove the fill plug with a 14mm socket.
18. Fill the differential cover with the manufacturer’s recommended fluid to the middle of the sight glass.
Please note: If the truck is not on level ground, or has been lifted, the fluid may go above the middle of the sight glass.
19. Install the magnetic fill plug and tighten it with your socket wrench.
DO NOT over tighten it or you could damage the o-ring seal.
20. Enjoy your new Banks Ram-Air Rear Differential Cover!