02 Mountaineer AWD front differential Question

[Garciajoaquin]

So i took finally took a look at my front differential and indeed the front pinion was worn out really bad. Took it off and went on an adventure to get a replacement one from a Junk Yard. Got a used one and the wrecking yard guy said just to install it and fill it up with fluid. SO i went ahead and istalled it and now my questions are; How much fluid does it take? I bought 2 quarts of 70w-80 synthetic gear oil. Is this correct? Do i fill it up from the plug it has on the front cover plate? or do I need to fill it thru the over flow tip? Thanks.. (2002 Mercury Mountaineer 4.0L AWD)

 

[Ronin8002]

Fill it thru the hole it has on the front cover plate until the fluid is up to the bottom edge of the hole. Should take a little more than 1.25 quarts.

I believe 80W-90 is what is called for on the later model explorers that have that same differential but I've used 75W-90 personally and that worked fine.

So i took finally took a look at my front differential and indeed the front pinion was worn out really bad. Took it off and went on an adventure to get a replacement one from a Junk Yard. Got a used one and the wrecking yard guy said just to install it and fill it up with fluid. SO i went ahead and istalled it and now my questions are; How much fluid does it take? I bought 2 quarts of 70w-80 synthetic gear oil. Is this correct? Do i fill it up from the plug it has on the front cover plate? or do I need to fill it thru the over flow tip? Thanks.. (2002 Mercury Mountaineer 4.0L AWD)

 

[Garciajoaquin]

Oh ok got it. CORRECTION the gear oil is 70w-90.

 

[2Trux]

So i took finally took a look at my front differential and indeed the front pinion was worn out really bad. Took it off and went on an adventure to get a replacement one from a Junk Yard. Got a used one and the wrecking yard guy said just to install it and fill it up with fluid.

Setting up a ring and pinion correctly involves more than just installing it. You should have got the ring gear that was matched with the pinion. There is also a setup procedure to follow to make sure the ring and pinion are meshing correctly. If it's not setup correctly service life will be reduced.

 

[Garciajoaquin]

It was taken off a crashed 02 explorer awd. The part was opened for inspection of gears.

 

[Ronin8002]

Setting up a ring and pinion correctly involves more than just installing it. You should have got the ring gear that was matched with the pinion. There is also a setup procedure to follow to make sure the ring and pinion are meshing correctly. If it's not setup correctly service life will be reduced.

I think he's installing the whole assembly, including the housing.

 

[2Trux]

I think he's installing the whole assembly, including the housing.

That makes much more sense.

 

[Garciajoaquin]

sorry i was not specific but yeah installed the whole assembly. I drove it last night and it sounded nice and quiet. It use to sound like a "Roller coaster" . I cant seem to attach a picture to this post to show how bad it was.