Front differential

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Feb 8, 2003 | 06:04 PM

spixican07

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Senior User

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 189

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From: Texas A&M

Front differential

Is it possible to completely drain the front differential? If so, how? Theres no plate on the front to remove. It seems like you'd almost have to take apart the axle to unbolt the housing from the scissors. Is this correct?

Just drained the back one. After last weekend's adventures which involved me burying the back end in 3 feet of water the differential fluid was a grey burnt-smelling mess. Yuck. Front is blackish and no sign of water. Should I even bother?

Feb 8, 2003 | 06:13 PM

Broncoguy89

Mountain Pass

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 247

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From: Madison/CT

Front differential

Sounds like the rear needed it. I agree with what you said about having to take it all apart to drain. I used a tool that a ford mechanic friend of mine had. It was like a turkey baster with a long hose attached, as funny as it sounds. You said the fliud was blackish, so i wouldn't even bother changing it. Maybe someone has another idea.

Feb 8, 2003 | 06:35 PM

mrwizard

Posting Guru

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 2,205

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From: Vancouver WA

Front differential

Using one of those suction tools is the best way to go. Much easier than tearing the whole thing apart. You should be able to get all but the last few drops out.

Feb 8, 2003 | 08:58 PM

BroncoScott

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Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 214

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From: Florida East Coast

Front differential

I got a suction tool for 4 bucks at Central Auto Parts. My local Auto Zone doesn't carry them. Take that fill plug out, stick the hose in there and pull out the fluid. Wait about ten minutes for the remaining fluid to drain down into the lowest spot and pull some more.

Feb 9, 2003 | 12:11 AM

steve83

Post Fiend

Joined: Nov 2002

Posts: 9,987

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From: Memphis, TN

Front differential

Driving it in 4WD will warm up that diff & make the fluid easier to extract. Some people drill out the bottom of the chunk, tap the hole, & install a plug like the fill has.

Feb 9, 2003 | 11:47 AM

tite4x4

Senior User

Joined: Aug 2000

Posts: 473

Likes: 1

From: Richmond, CA

Front differential

Using some kind of turkey baster type of suction devise would be the best way to drain the front diff. oil. (Sounds a little perverted), but what ever works.

Again, like some else had posted, after pulling out as much of the oil out as possible, wait about 10 to 15 minutes to let the drain down to bottom of housing and pull some more oil out.

Drilling a hole in housing then taping the hole for a drain plug would be great. But, the best way to do that would be to take it all apart and then drilling the hole. The main concern for this is not to get the metal shavings in the differential.

Hope this helps