I'm going through all the fluids on my 2012 F150 FX4 (just picked it up)

I change the oil today... Ok, that was a different experience. The truck has a front leveling kit, thus it doesn't rake forward... So, you know that square hole in the skid plate just back of the differential, well.....That's where the oil goes instead of the front. I had my pan setup thinking ( that was my mistake) that it would just flow towards the front. After cleaning up the mess... I noticed the front diff...

Wow... What a pain to get to get to. How the heck do you get to the upper bolts? Remove the steering assembly?

I'm hoping you guys have found a better way... I search on several sites but no one has any pics or vids on a 2012 and later.

 

I don't think you'll find too many people that have changed the fluid on the front diff.

The last time I did it (2000 explorer) I just sucked it out of the fill hole and called ot good enough. I did it that way for the exact same reason as you mentioned.

For what it is worth, the only time the front diff spins is in 4wd or auto 4wd (if you have it) so it is not as critical as the rear.

 

I agree with you, it's just than I'm **** about maintenance... I hate to be out in the boonies and have something happen (not that it wouldn't even with all the maintenance in the world) that I could have prevented. You know Murphy

I primarily used the truck for hunting and towing my Jeep. The Jeep towing is not a big deal, as there are usually several trucks also towing their Jeeps. The hunting trips are different. I'm typically the only truck with my son along and we tend to get into the back country... Thus the reason for keeping the maintenance up.