I've got an 89 with the Dana 44 up front, I believe. Without any drain plug it looks like you have to unbolt the whole diff housing. Bolting everything back together looks real fun - like trying to keep the gasket in place, etc. I've even been thinking about drilling a drain hole in the bottom and tapping a hole for a pipe plug.

I recently bought this clean, nice running 89 with 5 liter engine. It's got 140K miles and runs great - just got back from Baja's outback and changed all the other fluids, AOT tranny, transfer case, rear axle - but the front looks like a real project! Maybe I'll just let it go, as this Bronco is so clean, the previous owners probably didn't run it much in the dirt...any comments?

 

Drain it through the fill hole using a suction gun and a plastic tube. If the housing is not leaking this should prove to be adaquate to drain and refill the front Diff housing.

Bob

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 15-Feb-02 AT 10:01 PM (EST)]Great idea, Bob...I'll check around for a clear flex hose that I can 'worm' around in there.

I have recently seen ad's for liquid 'sucking'devices - they use a one or two gallon plastic jug and have pumps attached to create a vacumn and allow you to drain anything the hose will fit into...

 

I just took mine to Jiffy Lube, they pumped it out and filled it, it cost me around 15 bucks and well worth it. Someone on here once said you can drain it by removing the lowest bolt on the front of the housing, I never tried that though.