Draining and replacing fluid in differential. Please help with tips/advice.

[unpredictable1]

Hey fellas,

I have a 93 Eddie Bauer and I was looking at draing the differential and adding some new fluids. Should I attempt this myself or just cough up the cash to have a local shop do it?

I'm not a rookie to working on vehicles, I can do odds n ends like brakes, hoses, intakes, alternators and such but I've never attempted anything like this.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Leo

 

[JoeC5]

There are 2 ways you can drain the fluid. 1 is remove the drain plug and use a pump to get the fluid out or remove the diff cover. If you decide to remove the diff cover make sure before you put it back on to run a bead of silicone around the edges to prevent any leaks. Overall, its not that hard at all.

 

[unpredictable1]

So drain it out by removing the cover and have a large pan there no doubt to collect the fluid,

what kind of pump are you talkin about? if you remove the drain plug i would imagine there has to be another opening on top of the differential that can be opened to pour the new fluid in...sopening that should let it all flow out.

maybe just removing the cover itself would be a faster/easier way to do it, what is the general consensus on that one...

Also how much of what kind of fluid should I use?

thanks,

leo

 

[BajaXplorer]

See my post here- I just did it a few weeks back-

Dead Link Removed

 

[JoeC5]

Nope there is one one way to pour in the fluid and its goes in through the drain plug. You have to use a funnel. And when you refill the diff, you fill it up to right to the drain plug opening. Oh yeah, do not over tighten the diff cover bolts. As for the type of fluid, try doing a search for "differential fluid or diff fluid" and I'm sure you will come up with some thing.

 

[leebo]

You can't just remove the front cover, there is none. The only way you can do the front(if you've got 4x4) is to remove the enitre front end and then do it, or you could get a 2dollar pump from the auto store and drain it that way. There's a bolt on the front of the diff that you'll remove and pump the fluid out. When done you'll just spray some fluid into the same hole.

The back though you can either remove the cover and drain it or also use the pump. Either or.

 

[Sschultz]

JoeC5,

I think theres some confusion. There is only one plug on the front and rear diff. Its the fill plug. If you don't want to remove the rear diff. cover(leebos right, there is no removable cover on the front diff.), I would do what Leebo suggested. Go buy a cheep hand suction pump. They usually come with a short flexiable tube.
1 -Remove the fill plug (They are not socket driven, but they do except the hex drive of a ratchet)
2 - Put the tube of the pump into the diff. suck out the old fluid and then pump it into a waist container.
3 - Use the same pump to suck the new fluid out of the court container. then insert the tube into the diff and empty the pump full of new fluid in to the diff.
4 - repeat step 3 until full. ( you can tell it's full when you put your pinky finger into the fill plug, and the tip of your finger touches the fluid, or just shy of three quarts).
I hope this helps.

 

[JulieEx]

Easiest way is to take it to Jiffy Lube ( or similar location ) and pay them to pump it out. They will put in whatever fluid you provide or use their own.