Are these the fill/drain holes on the Diff (pics)?

[shogun2fire]

Here's a picture of the rear differential before I get started changing the fluid. I just wanted to make sure if the red circle is the fill hole and the blue is the drain hole. I didn't have the right socket size so I'll be picking up a 24mm tomorrow.

 

[bkgee]

yes, and search for a link to the fsm download, it will get you a long way

 

[jemsec]

Be sure to replace the 'crush washers' when reinstalling.

 

[shogun2fire]

Found the rear and front diff replacement instructions on the FAQ. Seems like it is 24mm so I'll have to go to the store tomorrow. And in the mean time visit the ripoff dealer for some puny washers.

The part # for the washers are in the faq for those that need it and they're like 90 cents each..

 

[Wilsil]

Open the fill first.
Otherwise it will be fun when you have drained the oil and you can't open the fill point.....

 

[mgeiger]

You're doing the front too right? and the transfer case?

 

[4Peanut]

What Wilsil said.

 

[shogun2fire]

You're doing the front too right? and the transfer case?

Yup, was looking at doing the rear first out of the 3.

 

[flood]

Put some paper down, the gear oil stinks and stains concrete forever.

 

[shogun2fire]

So I removed the top screw just fine but the bottom one is smacked in tight. I have no idea why it is so tight and am afraid of stripping it. My torque wrench is like 15 inches and it was putting a lot more force than it was specified in the manual.

Is there a way to loosen it?

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Probably shouldn't use a torque wrench to loosen bolts. Make sure the socket is on there good, tap it on if you need to before you put on the ratchet handle, then gently tap the handle with a hammer. Make sure you're hitting the right way, it's easy to get rightsy-tightsy and leftsy-loosey turned around upside down.

 

[Nottajeep]

FYI- the rear is 5x the fluid of the front diff and the rear is about 5x easier to change/fill over the front.
No biggie but I thought I would give you a heads up.

 

[shogun2fire]

Make sure you're hitting the right way, it's easy to get rightsy-tightsy and leftsy-loosey turned around upside down.

Oh my god i got it mixed up while I was upside down

 

[Wilsil]

You better come here Down Under so you get it right, uh left, whatever.

 

[packetstormin]

Oh my god i got it mixed up while I was upside down

This^^^

It happens to me also.

Please post up when you change the front diff oil. I will be tackling this job soon and would be interested in any hints or tricks.

 

[geocruiser]

I just changed my front oil a few months ago. The filler plug is up high on the passenger side of the front diff. You need a metric allen key wrench to get it out(the filler bolt does not have a hex head) . I don't recall the size, but it was the largest allen key that I had on my set (home depot brand kit with 15 wrenches or so).

To fill the diff back up, I used a long piece of 1/4 I.D. tubing attached to the diff oil jug spout. The space is too tight to fit the oil bottle, so I had a buddy hold the bottle near the front wheel, and I snaked the tubing under the truck and into the filler hole. Stop when oil runs out of the filler hole. job.

 

[ebod]

Would I have to put my car up on jack stands to do this, or can I just crawl under it (assuming my beer belly isn't so bad as to make my belly higher than my, essentially normal sized, head)?

 

[CreeperSleeper]

I just changed my front oil a few months ago. The filler plug is up high on the passenger side of the front diff. You need a metric allen key wrench to get it out(the filler bolt does not have a hex head) . I don't recall the size, but it was the largest allen key that I had on my set (home depot brand kit with 15 wrenches or so).

To fill the diff back up, I used a long piece of 1/4 I.D. tubing attached to the diff oil jug spout. The space is too tight to fit the oil bottle, so I had a buddy hold the bottle near the front wheel, and I snaked the tubing under the truck and into the filler hole. Stop when oil runs out of the filler hole. job.

It's 10mm...

 

[geocruiser]

Would I have to put my car up on jack stands to do this, or can I just crawl under it (assuming my beer belly isn't so bad as to make my belly higher than my, essentially normal sized, head)?

I did mine by just crawling underneath. If your truck is not lifted, you may need to jack it up.

I also had my skid plates off at the time; I haven't looked, but I bet they are in the way.

Sent from my Thunderbonner using IH8MUD

 

[hankinid]

It's 10mm...

...and it helps to get the Allen wrench in the version that will fit on your socket wrench.

I did mine by just crawling underneath. If your truck is not lifted, you may need to jack it up.

I also had my skid plates off at the time; I haven't looked, but I bet they are in the way.

Sent from my Thunderbonner using IH8MUD

Skid plates are in the way, and jackstands will give you a lot more room. That said, it's less than a job.

Steve