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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

Another week, another job

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Old Aug 21, 2015 | 09:49 PM
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Another week, another job

Hey all. I'm going to replace a leaky gasket on my 1983 F-250's rear differential. I wanted to know what fluid types are recommended, and how you go about refilling a Dana differential that doesn't have the drain or check plug. I'm I just not seeing it? Or is there some special trick to filling it once I've drained the old stuff?
 
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Old Aug 21, 2015 | 09:54 PM
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Oh and how do I identify my differential? A precious owner rattle canned the truck and painted over the door sticker.
 
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Old Aug 22, 2015 | 05:57 AM
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If you have a dana axle, you should have a fill plug midway up on the rear cover. If a Ford/Sterling was swapped in, the fill plug is midway on the front casting on the driver's side of the differential.

Do you have the large piece with all the little bolts on it sticking out of the middle of the rear wheels? If yes, you have a full floating axle that was installed in the f250HD's. If not, you have the lighter duty f250 with the semi-float axle.

When you are back there look for a tag under one of the bolts. It can tell you what ratio you have. Or just carefully take your fingernail and scrape the paint off the door tag. If it's a rattle can job, it probably didn't stick that well.
 
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Old Aug 22, 2015 | 05:59 AM
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Dana should have a plug on the rear cover.
There should be a metal BOM tag attached under a nut that holds that cover
 
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Old Aug 22, 2015 | 12:32 PM
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Old Aug 22, 2015 | 12:34 PM
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That's my differential, and for the life of me I can't find any drain or filler plugs anywhere.. This truck has been heavily modified over the years, so for all I know this isn't the original setup.
 
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Old Aug 22, 2015 | 03:00 PM
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Definitely Sterling.
Look for a plug on the front drivers side hiding behind that sway bar.

Take a picture of the end of the axle (under the hubcap)
Do those hubs stick way out?

On the rear cover, one of those bolts should be a stud with a metal tag nutted down.
I can hardly see on my cracked phone screen.
 
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Old Aug 22, 2015 | 03:35 PM
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The fill/level plug should be in this shot, probably behind the sway bar as was mentioned.

 
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