Howdy All
So I'm working on freshening all the fluids in my '96 Bronco before I start using it as my DD. The front diff is the Dana 44 IFS. The fill plug is obvious, but how do you go about draining the old fluid?
From the looks of it I can't tell if the bottom bolt on the front side will drain it or not and none of the books that I have show any drain point.
Whatupwitdat?
Thanks

 

Pretty sure you have to take the cover off to drain it. They didn't come stock with a drain plug.

 

There is no cover to remove on a TTB axle.
Fluid change shops use a vacuum of some sort.. basically a large syringe with a length of flex tubing attached inserted through he fill hole.

 

You can pick up a cheap hand operated, fluid siphon pump from the store. They use acrylic tubes and you stick that down into your fluid. I imagine that might work for that application, but I've only used it on other things like draining a radiator, which worked great.

 

Go the pet store and buy a cheap aquarium syphon pump. may have to adapt a smaller diameter piece of tubing to it. But for about $8.00 you cant beat it

 

Yup, the TTB D44 is a bit of a pain for this procedure since what would be the "inspection cover" is actually the driver's side half of the axle housing. Ditto on the siphon pump method.

 

 

It depends on how much time you want to take. I have drilled and tapped holes in mine. But before I did that, I just loosened all the bolts that hold the differential to the axle, so there was about an inch of play. I could then pry the diff back, bolts still there, and drain everything. Then go through a SuperDuty load of brake parts cleaner, get in there with my wire brush to clean the mating surfaces. It sucks. But I wanted to make sure there weren't any metal shavings. Wait, this gets better. So then after everything was clean, I'd put Ultra Copper around it and then tighten the bolts back up. Let it sit over night, then fill it up, and all is good - even without leaks!

So, if you want to go through all of that, then that's cool. If you don't want to drill and tap, that's cool too. So you could do it the easy way.

Beer(in cans), Shop Vac, duct tape, and a tube that fits through the filler hole.

1. Consume one beer while contemplating the project.

2. Once the beer is empty, cut the bottom off of it.

3. Where beer was previously flowing, insert the tube, and tape it up.

4. Insert cut end of beer can into shop vac hose, and tape it up.

5. Oh crap, I forgot, you should remember to have a beer between each step.

6. Fire up shop vac, insert tube in filler hole, and suck all the crap out.

Yeah yeah, the filter on the vac gets a little oily... which is good because it improves filtration! Once you're done, drop the shop vac's filter in a bucket of water and Simple Green. Let it soak overnight. Rinse and continue on with your day.

This project should not require more than two cases of beer. If you open your third during this process, call someone, because this is obviously your last case, you can't drive, and are going to be running out soon. Arrange for said beer delivery, and carry on.

 

Hell Mike I am gonna have to get you to come do ..........uh help me with mine

 

Any time my friend.

 

This is why my Bronco has a solid axle, less time working more time with a beer in my hand looking at the truck......

 

You followin' me?

 

Nope, i'm in front of you.......

 

I can see this getting out of hand quickly.

 

Only one hand though, I'm drinking with the other one......