Hey guys... (1996 2wd)

I have been trying to find out exactly how to change the rear end diff fluid... I can't seem to find much of anything about it in my haynes manual at all.

Pretty much I figure..

1.Go to part store and buy a gasket
2.put pan under and unbolt everything and let it drain
3.inspect/clean the parts in it for wear and tare
4.put gasket sealer on the diff cap and put the new gasket ontop of that
5.put the cap back on and put all the bolts back on
6.fill up to ???? with fluid...

Some questions I had.

Where do you fill it up to?
What happens if I break a bolt or something?
Can I clean the inside of the differential out? (Break dust cleaner)?
Where do I fill it up from? (Can't find the plug)
Do I need to put it on jack stands? it's a truck... :P



Any advice or suggestions would help, will be my first time doing it. 125k miles on truck :P

 

1. there is a fill plug on the front end of the diff, should be on the drivers' side of the drive shalf (8.8 rear end?) fill until it come out of that hole.
2. don't break a bolt
3.yes
4. see #1
5. no

 

so I pretty much have it down... is this something that needs to be done? It hasnt been changed in 125k miles :P

 

Couldn't hurt...as long as you use the correct fluid.

 

Also with that many miles 500,000 haha i would put a bottle of anti friction anti friction in there.

 

^^^X2

I did mine at 100K per the owners manual, yours can't be much different

 

Or you could pick up an aftermarket aluminum cover with fill and drain plugs. They run cooler and most have a set of screws which support the carier side bearing caps.

Whatever you do use a synthetic lube. I use Redline 75w90, there are others. If you have a Track-Lok be sure to add friction modifiers or use an LS specific fluid which already contains them.

 

Unless it's a limited slip diff which requires friction modifiers...

Have your girlfriend over too, stuff smells good.

Adrianspeeder