Help on changing rear differential oil.

[mitch311]

Hi guys,

It's time for me change my rear differential oil and I need some help. I see the filler plug but can't see the drain plug. Any advice you guys have for me to drain the oil gear oil? Will I have to remove the entire differential cover?

Thanks in advance.

[amigo-2k]

Sorry there is no fill plug.

Step by Step:

1. Loosen the fill bolt (so it is easier to remove while the diffy cover is off) with a socket extension on your socket driver.

2. Loosen/ remove the track bar left hand side (I remove the nut from the leftside).

3. Place the pan below the diffy, lossen all the bolts, and smack it a couple of times with a rubber mallet. Let the oil start to drain a bit. (If you remove all the bolts at once you could end up taking an oil bath once your smack it with the rubber hammer).

4. Continue to loosen the bolts and drain the oil.

5. Once you have most of the oil out remove the cover. Clean the mateing surfaces with a putty knife (if this is your first time since the truck was new you will find they used gasket maker stuff).

6. Replace the gasket with a paper gasket (if you want to use the make a gasket stuff that is fine but it will be a mess the next time it comes to change) Fel-Pro # RDS 6629 (7 bucks for the paper gasket at most autoparts stores). The benifit of the paper gasket is the next time you change it it will just pop right off and no or little putty knife work is need. If you dab a little axle grease on the diffy housing it will help to keep the gasket inplace.

5. Replace the cover, tighten it down (use a crossing patteren while tighting).

6. Fill with diffy fluid (note if you need oil with limited slip additive), a cheap 5buck hand pump will help to keep you clean (the hand pump screws onto the top of the oil bottle) and you can use it again and again over the years.

7. Tighten up the track bar and replace the fill bolt and your ready to roll!

Good luck!
-Ryan

[mitch311]

Thanks "Amigo-2K",

The part number for the Fel-Pro # RDS 6629 gasket, is it made particular for the 2001 rodeo? Is there any leakage problem using the Fel-Pro gasket instead of the silicone glue type gasket maker?

Thanks again.

[amigo-2k]

Yup the felpro # is for all 98-04 Rodeo's and Amigo's. You have a Dana 44 rear axle in your truck. I personally think there is less of a chance for leakage with a paper gasket then a silicone one since there is no guess work to wonder if you have enuff silicone coverage, and it is easy to pop off the paper one next time.
-Ryan

[directory]

i know this is an old thread but, i may be doing this soon as i am buying a new diff cover..i don't think the factory tin foil one will work for me...

i have a 4x4...anyone know how to change the front diff cover? and if there are any aftermarket covers for the front? 99 passport 4x4 auto...any tips/tricks?

[Gizmo42]

There is no cover on the front diff, it is solid with the axle. Only the input side of it is removable.

[directory]

ahhh, that would make sense. ok. thanks!

[lifelongslacker]

Word of Advice: unless you can defy gravity, buy a good fluid transfer pump with a long hose. (trust me)

[directory]

yes...i think i might buy 2--one to get the bad stuff out, one to put the good stuff in

[marcre]

Originally Posted by directory

yes...i think i might buy 2--one to get the bad stuff out, one to put the good stuff in

That's what I did. I threw the pumps out when I was done too. It was kind of a pain to fill the diffs back up.

[mapua82]

At 70,000 mi, i haven't change my differential fluid (front & back).
In the front - because i used 4WD sparingly even on winter.
Also i haven't change the transfer case oil too.
In the back - Its because its a limited slip differential and there are no pre-mixed fluids (you have to mix them).

[directory]

Originally Posted by mapua82

At 70,000 mi, i haven't change my differential fluid (front & back).
In the front - because i used 4WD sparingly even on winter.
Also i haven't change the transfer case oil too.
In the back - Its because its a limited slip differential and there are no pre-mixed fluids (you have to mix them).

there aren't any??? that doesn't sound right.

[Gizmo42]

Originally Posted by mapua82

In the back - Its because its a limited slip differential and there are no pre-mixed fluids (you have to mix them).

There's several premixed LSD gear oils. Here is what I used in mine..

http://www.valvoline.com/pages/produ...asp?product=58

Originally Posted by Valvoline

Contains special additives to reduce chattering in limited-slip differentials
Recommended for (conventional and limited slip) manual transmissions where an API GL-5 or MT-1 fluid is specified