I have a 1995 Ford F150 XLT 4X4 supercab. This weekend I decided to change the front diff fluid (never been done), and draining went well via a siphon tube through the fill plug. I then went to fill the new fluid in, and after the first quart was done, when I pulled the tube out, I realized the "nozzle" at the end was missing...must have been pushed out with the fluid. D'oh....so now that's floating around in the housing somewhere. I think I'm okay for now as its manual locking hubs, which are both set to "free", and I'm not using 4 wheel drive right now, so I don't think anything is spinning around in there, at least I hope not (don't want any damage).

The question is, how to fix this. I think its the Dana 44 rear which is mounted in there backwards, and I'm trying to figure out what I need to do now to get the diff "open" so I can get that part out. I searched the forum but didn't find any instructions. Any help, suggestions, advice appreciated. Never had to do much work on this truck yet besides regular maintenance.

Thanks!

 

There is no differential cover for this axle. It is not a Dana 44 mounted backwards, but a Dana 44 Twin Traction Beam (TTB). It basicly works like a Ford 9" rear...the entire differential, gears, carrier and all pull out of the housing.

Here is a good writeup on the whole process. Drill and tap a drain plug while you have it apart.

http://fullsizebronco.com/forum/show...ht=d50+install

 

Wow, that looks like a lot of work and tools needed I don't have. Was talking to a mechanic this evening who wondered if drilling/tapping a drain plug might get me lucky and have the part come out that way...assuming I can drill a large enough hole, and provided the part isn't stuck amongst the gear parts higher up as opposed to laying at the bottom.

 

It very well may. However, the whole process really isn't that bad, and will teach you a lot about your truck. If you can do the third member removal, you can do your own brakes, wheel bearings and hubs. It will all pay off in the end.

 

Another suggestion I was given by several people was to try the drill/tap a drain plug method first, before tearing everything apart, in the off-chance I get lucky and can fish the part out that way, assuming its sitting at the bottom or will get there when the diff is drained.