Hey guys, I can't find it if there is one, but is there a wright-up for changing the Diff Fluids?

I assume you just take the cover off and catch the used stuff in a bin or bucket of some sort, but do you put the cover back on and fill it or what?

What type of fluid do I use? what weight?

Do I clean the gears with a brush or something?

How often is it needed? I'm sure I can do it myself, And I don't wanna pay 149.99 for the dealership to muck something up I can do just fine by myself....

 

Here is a good write-up WOL did for changing fluid on his TJ.

http://www.4x4xplor.com/diff-service.html

 

There is a drain plug on the bottom of JK differential housings.
1. Put pan under dif
2. remove drain plug, catching old oil in pan
3. Replace drain plug
4. Remove fill plug
5. Put in appropriate amount and type of new oil (check manual for this info)
6. Replace fill plug
7. pour old oil over your head
8. Run around your neighborhood yelling "I'VE STRUCK OIL!"

 

 

 

the only thing i would add is make sure your fill plug comes off before you remove the drain plug. Call it paranoid but wouldnt that suck if you couldnt get the fill plug off after you drained it?

Also, ive heard to get some kind of teflon paste from a hardware store to put on the drain plug so it wont leak... Have not done it yet so im not sure on this one

 

I wrap the drain and fill plug with teflon (plumbers) tape. Don't use too much force putting the plugs back or you will kill your locker. You need a pump to pump the gear oil into the diff. If you have a lift and the angles have changed you may need to do the operation on a sloped surface to get the proper amount of oil in the dif. Don't over fill it or it comes back out the breather. IMO it's the easiest maintenance item to do on your vehicle. As is changing the trans fluid and the transfer case fluid. Except for the stupid exhaust routing on the 2dr.

You should also clean the metal shavings off the magnet in the plug. This is normal for new gears. You shouldn't see any sludge/shavings after the first change. Or very little at least.

 

this is pretty simple to do. I just changed mine tonight for the first time. Unscrew the drain plug. Let it drain. Put it back with sealer/teflon tape (whatever u fancy). Fill (if u work with it you can get the bottle up to filling without the pump) and then fill till it oozes out. Once it stops put the fill plug back in

 

Removing the fill plug 1st also allows the lubricant to flow out faster.

 

There's an axle vent tube already, so I doubt it.