How to check the front differentail fluid?/ rant

[jakedrew]

My thoughts are you unscrew the plug on the cover and fluid should either come out, or should be close to the fill plug. Like you stick your finger in there and you can find the fluid. Am I correct on how to check it????

WEELLLLLLLL.

At 56k miles my local ford shop replaced my front ring and pinion seal before my 60k warranty ran up. Now= 63k miles my front end howls. I changed one bearing, tires and no luck.... I should have checked their work, but you think that is something they do. (lesson learned)

Checked the fluid and it has to be low. I stick my finger in there AND I cant find fluid. Dont mind the sandwhich wrapper I found wedged above my spare tire. :thumbdwn:

SOOOO A trip to the dealership and a talk with the guy in charge is in order first thing after work Tuesday!.

I will keep updated!
wish me luck!
jake

(another story from a different shop- 25k miles my water pump went out, took it in and they replaced it. Wife got it home and it smelt like burning rubber. I look and the belt is shredded , coolant is low and the fender is scuffed. OOOO I had some words with the man in charge. They treated me good after that, but went got bought out and I stopped going there)

 

[jakedrew]

update. haha there is fluid in there. I had to stick a zip tie on a angle and i found it.


Can I put a lucas additive in the front end?

 

[my pos mounty]

My thoughts are you unscrew the plug on the cover and fluid should either come out, or should be close to the fill plug. Like you stick your finger in there and you can find the fluid. Am I correct on how to check it????

Yes. You should be able to poke a fingertip in there and find the fluid. If not, it is low. Add until you can't add any more.

Can I put a lucas additive in the front end?

My guess is yes

 

[jakedrew]

thanks for the reply.

 

[imp]

If there's the least bit of juice in there, sufficient for the ring gear to bathe in it at the bottom, it will throw it all over. So, IMO, if not empty, topping up will not eliminate gear noise, if there is some. If the gears lasted 3k miles before starting to howl, it would seem more likely an improperly locked differential bearing adjuster, rather than incorrectly set gears.

IOW, if contact pattern bad from improper set-up, gears let you know it right away! imp

 

[jakedrew]

^ thanks for the reply. I remember the noise when before I had the rear end ring and pinion done, this noise is nothing like it.