Axle differential fluid

Ok. I've done all except replace my axle diff fluid.

I just took a peek and it has no drain plug on the rodeo 04.

Anybody done this on a rodeo 04 ?

Yours should be the same as on mine. On the front diff one of the bottom bolts for the 3rd member (the one with the copper washer) is also the drain plug. On the rear there is no drain plug, you have to pull the cover off. Getting the cover off the first time can be difficult since there isnt a gasket, its sealed with RTV. Once all the bolts are loose just keep smaking it with a hammer from the side.

I only have a 2-wd drive so I guess I just have to do the rear axle then.

:) On the rear diff, I have found it easier to drop the spare tire. You difenately have to remove the upper bolt on the lateral bar and pull it out of the way. Then remove all the bolts and and remove the cover, then clean the old gasket materail off. Then replace the cover with new gasket materail. I have a lift so I can just squirt the new oil in. I dont know how it would go in without a lift, might have to use a pump. It holds right at 2 quarts, 1.8 I think the book says. Andie:)

I dont know how it would go in without a lift, might have to use a pump.

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that. A pump is the way to go. You can do it with a length of tubing stuffed onto the end of the bottle and squeeze it in but its really messy and takes alot of squeezing to get it in (did that WAY too much in Moab after destroying my diff cover).

what bolt on the lateral bar? You're talking about the spare tire?

I can get the spare tire out of the way easily.

I see 10 bolts on the fluid cover. Does it attach to something else?

What's a lift? You mean a hand pump?

I can put the fluid in a bottle with a pump and pump it in too.

:) The lateral bar is what holds the body square over the axle, some call it a hard pan bar? It is connected to the body on the passangers side and the axle on the drivers side, its right in fornt of the back diff cover. I remove the nut and take the bar off on the body side(passanger) to remove the cover.
A lift is just raising the truck, mine was done with bigger springs, and turning the front torsen bars to match the height front to back.
Probably any pump that will fit in the hole and pump the diff fluid will work. Andie:)