Differential plug

[F14CRAZY]

Where is the plug located on the rear differential on a '92 Explorer? I wanna check the level but can't find it. Has the "performance" Traction Lok, 3.73 if I'm right. Thank you. If you've read my posts a while back, I'm still trying to get the money for those Warn hubs.

 

[dogfriend]

The fill plug should be on the "front" side of the diff (the same side as where the driveshaft is). You should see a square recessed plug (3/8")

http://www3.autozone.com/servlet/Ui..._us/0900823d/80/0b/89/98/0900823d800b8998.jsp

 

[JLP]

A little trick my dad told me:
When changing diff fluids ALWAYS remove the FILL plug FIRST. This way if you cant get the plug out (the 3/8 square holes are notorious for rounding out) you arent stuck with a empty diff and no way to fill....

 

[dogfriend]

Ford has a solution to that problem: There is no drain plug on the diff, just a fill plug HAHAHAHAHA

Seriously, if you want to change the diff fluid, you either remove the cover from the rear to drain it out or you have to suck it out through the fill port.

 

[Josh S.]

A little trick my dad told me:
When changing diff fluids ALWAYS remove the FILL plug FIRST. This way if you cant get the plug out (the 3/8 square holes are notorious for rounding out) you arent stuck with a empty diff and no way to fill....

yah i just did that yesterday and had to get towed home from the desert. So now I have a dry diff, and a rounded out hole...what should i do??

 

[dogfriend]

Try to find a big a$$ screw extractor (also sometimes called an easy out) or something that you can wedge into the rounded out hole. I wouldn't recommend trying to drill it out because you don't want to get chips of metal inside the diff. Good luck.

 

[Josh S.]

hmm EZ-out eh? I'll check into that. I was looking around for a diff cover with a FILL plug on it and couldn't find one. ANYBODY KNOW? thanks guys

 

[dogfriend]

Dead Link Removed

The Mag-Hytec has a fill port and a dipstick, but they are expensive.

http://store.summitracing.com/defau...eywordSearch&Ntt=Differential+cover&x=18&y=13

Summit also has a cover with a fill port

 

[jgilbs]

if you have a dremel tool or angle grinder, cut a slot in the plug, so it looks like a slotted screw. then you can take a screwdriver and *CAREFULLY* unscrew the plug(use liberal amounts of PB blaster OR a torch [PB is flammable so be very careful!] to try to loosen the bolt as the plug will not be able to take much torque if you cut it). this is only a LAST resort as there is a chance it can fail, and then you are stuck with a plug that there is no easy way to get off, but it has worked for me many times in the past with stripped, rounded off and broken off bolts, you would just need to buy a new plug afterwards and remember to coat it with some anti-sieze before you put it back in.

 

[Josh S.]

Thank you guys SO much for the replies! I'm thinking I'm going to go with the Mag-Hytec one, although it is $90+ more than the summit one. I don't think I'm going to mess with that stupid fill plug anymore, it was a PITA to get to anyways, right? thanks thanks thanks

 

[jimbo74]

well you could just buy one of the summit cheapy ones and make a fill plug... there are companies that have the transmission drain plug kit, and im sure that would work o nthe diff cover

 

[Josh S.]

yah I saw on Summit that Moroso makes a DIY plug kit for trannies and diffs, but I would like something more reliable, and also would like to have the proper amount of fluid in there. Not sure if it makes too much of a difference, but I don't wanna put any unnecessary strain on my detroit or my gears.

 

[Josh S.]

Well I just got off the old tele with Mag-Hytec, ordered one of their stout-ass covers for my 8.8. Came out to about $259 which is a helluva lotta cash, but hey I needed to blow through my X-mas bonus somehow

I should be getting the cover tomorrow, so I'll be sure to snap a nice pic of it for you guys. Oh the guy Jerry over there that I talked to confirmed that you can indeed fill the thing from the dipstick hole on it, so that works for me!!

 

[dogfriend]

I think that is a excellent cover.

I have seen them on other trucks; they look good and they are very functional as well. I would get one, but I just can't justify that kind of money.

 

[Josh S.]

yah man I can't wait to get it in the mail! I was going to go for the Summit one, but I figured I might as well go for the better one cuz I REALLY don't wanna get towed home from the desert any more haha. I have only seen these covers on big ole' lifted Chevy's and Ford SD's, so I figured I better give support for the explorers out there ...and I figured the chicks might dig it

 

[mctoy]

Please excuse the intrusion into your thread, but I was thinking...(Hey it happens!) I know ideally you should remove the diff. cover and clean it out, but has anyone tried to put one of the trannie drain plugs on thier diff. cover? You could 'rinse' most of the crud out with diesel fuel or solvent, then refill.....(?)
Thoughts?
MCTOY

 

[dogfriend]

Its not that big of a deal to pop the cover off, actually.

The main problem that I see in adding a drain plug is that ideally you would want the plug in a flat spot so it would seal well, but the bottom of the diff cover (where you want to drain the fluid from) is curved.

If you use a solvent or diesel, you would want to be sure that you got it all out before refilling with new lube. That means that the drain would need to be at the lowest point possible. I think that you would want to pop the cover off to be sure in this case.

 

[mctoy]

I agree with you that it's not THAT big of a job to remove the cover, but I had read here that some guys are changing thier oil several times a year (?) ....You could just run a little extra oil through the diff. to clean it if doing it so often. Yes it would have to be as low as possible....I suppose you could heat the cover up and make a flat spot...Ahhh, it was just a passing thought....

 

[Josh S.]

Got the Mag-Hytec in the mail today...this thing is reallllly *****in. check it out here ---> CLICKY