Front differential fluid change
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2004
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Front differential fluid change
On an 89 F250 4x4 is there a drain on the front differential? I can't find a drain plug and I thought I read in a manual that you have to pump it out is that true? Cause that would be crappy way to change fluid.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 559
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From: On a farm.
There's a boss on the bottom of my D44TTB for a drain plug that was never drilled by Dana. If you have a steady hand, drill and tap it. I did so about 12 years ago with the diff in place and it worked well.
First, I marked the hole with a center punch and drilled the pilot hole with the oil still in, so all the chips would be flushed out. Yeah, a little messy at the end! You have to make double sure this first hole is drilled perrendicular to the boss surface! I marked the second drill (the tap sized one) bit for depth so as not to drill too far in. Buy a tapered pipe tap (I went half-inch), tap it carefully (with grease in the recesses of the tap to catch chips) and then flush ithe diff well with a light oil before installing the drain plug. I took the extra precaution of running a small magnet up into the holes to fish around for any chips (which were not found) and then used a magnetic drain plug with an Allen head. Now it's easy to change front diff oil. I admit to sweaty armpits at the time. It's a "do it right the first time" kinda moment, but not beyond a person with a steady hand, good bits and taps, and patience.
First, I marked the hole with a center punch and drilled the pilot hole with the oil still in, so all the chips would be flushed out. Yeah, a little messy at the end! You have to make double sure this first hole is drilled perrendicular to the boss surface! I marked the second drill (the tap sized one) bit for depth so as not to drill too far in. Buy a tapered pipe tap (I went half-inch), tap it carefully (with grease in the recesses of the tap to catch chips) and then flush ithe diff well with a light oil before installing the drain plug. I took the extra precaution of running a small magnet up into the holes to fish around for any chips (which were not found) and then used a magnetic drain plug with an Allen head. Now it's easy to change front diff oil. I admit to sweaty armpits at the time. It's a "do it right the first time" kinda moment, but not beyond a person with a steady hand, good bits and taps, and patience.
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