How in the heck do i change my front diff. fluid

[JoshC]

in my 97? I looked, i'm assuming you have to take the cover off but how do you get you hands and crap in there to do that? Man, i'm not the smallest guy in the world, i've only looked at it but it doesn't seem like there is much room to work much less take the cover off for a new gasket. I need to change it because it's been through a lot of water and it is nasty. I know this because some of it spilled out when i had my CV joint out last week. And one more question, were do you put it back in? My manual doesn't do crap for me on the front differential, and i couldn't find anything in a search, thanks for you help!

Happy trailes!!

 

[JDraper]

I went out and bought a pump to do it. To take the diffy cover off and replace it, you have to drop the whole axle assembly away from the frame member. It's a royal PITA!!! The suction pump cost me about 15 bucks and was well worth it.

 

[JoshC]

Good lord, so this isn't any kinda of 15 minute job like the rear end is. How long did it take you to do it all. Where do you fill it, i might just put some fresh in or something, what kinda of suction thing did buy, what does and how does it work? Thanks man!

Happy trailes!!

 

[JDraper]

Actually, with the pump it's a pretty quick job. There is a fill plug near the top on the driver's side. You can put the siphon hose in there, suck out all the old fluid, and then pump the new fluid in through the same hole. You can get a fluid siphon at about any auto parts store.

 

[JoshC]

GREAT, thanks alot man, i really do appriciate this. I bought alittle cheapo a few weeks ago to use on my transfer case and it was horrible!!! Dad has one for the kerosene stove in the garage, i just cleaned it out and used it, really nice, but i will try it, thanks alot again!

Happy trails!!

 

[JDraper]

Do yourself a favor and go buy a siphon that's designed for oils. They come with long hoses on either end, and are designed to be torn apart and cleaned out. They have a little hand pump on them, like one of those small sports pumps for footballs, etc. It'll make your life much easier than a kero pump. I got mine from an Advance Auto Parts store. Also, make sure that you get the hose ALL the way into the bottom of the diffy to get as much crap out as possible. Doing it this way isn't as good as removing the cover since you can't get in there and really clean it, but for the front diffy, it's worth it!!

 

[JoshC]

Actually, i bought mine from Advance, it has 2 really small clear hoses and they slide inside this little blue pump, either i can't figure it out it just flat out sucks. Is this the one you have or is it different? If i can find one for oils then i'll buy a couple to have around. I'm always in need for one it seems like. Thanks man!

Happy trails!!

 

[01EB5.0]

I brought my truck to an auto place and they said they were unable to change it with the suction method and that it would have to have the axle lowered. He even brought me under the truck and showed that there was something right inside the filler hole blocking a hose from going in. i am curious if maybe your hose was really small or something?

 

[JoshC]

Hey Travis, how's it going. haven't talked to you in a while. I'm going to try to get up underthere and look sometime today. I'll let you know what i find out. I need to change mine really bad, so i'll figure something out!

Happy trails!!

 

[JDraper]

Originally posted by 95XLT
I brought my truck to an auto place and they said they were unable to change it with the suction method and that it would have to have the axle lowered. He even brought me under the truck and showed that there was something right inside the filler hole blocking a hose from going in. i am curious if maybe your hose was really small or something?

Actually, if you work the hose in, it will fit past the carrier (that's what is just inside the hole). I changed mine after the 1st time I went to Paragon because I hadn't moved my vent tubes, and I got water in both differentials. My pump has two hoses with it, one about 1/2" in diameter, and one about 1/4" in diameter, and I had to use the 1/4" hose. My pump is orange plastic with removable rubber black caps on each end (one hose goes into the top cap and one into the bottom, that way you can pump either direction). The pump itself is a cylinder about 8" long with a black pump handle on one end. For the diffy fluid, you have to PUMP it out, gravity just doesn't cut it. Hey Josh, if you're gonna be at GWNF, I can bring it with me so you can see what it looks like.

 

[01EB5.0]

Originally posted by Jot017
Hey Travis, how's it going. haven't talked to you in a while. I'm going to try to get up underthere and look sometime today. I'll let you know what i find out. I need to change mine really bad, so i'll figure something out!

Happy trails!!

yeah it's been a while since I have eben real active on the site since school and xmas were busy. So how've you been? anyway I have 113,000 miles on my front diffy fluid and it was supposed to be done at 100,000. Just let me know how it works out for you.

 

[JoshC]

JD, i might try to do this this week before we meet up, but if i can't find one then i will let you know, thanks alot!!!

Travis. Not been up to much, same ol stuff. Starting school tomorrow, can't wait!:frustrate Mine has 109,000, and alot of water, so it's time to change!!

Talk to you all later, thanks!

Happy trails!!