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?

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

A quick rinse with motor oil would carry any shavings out the new drain hole! I'd say a bigger concern is NOT to line up with the ring gear so there's enough clearance for the tap to fully thread the hole.

 

I don't think I'd do it, but some people just remove the lower most bolt holding the diff to the arm, and drill up at an angle. U can only get a small hole, and it'll drain slow, but it works.