Axle Fluid Change

[brillmtb]

Can I use a pump to remove and replace axle fluid rather than removing the covers? Seems no one is reporting any significant findings to suggest I need to.

 

[Spooled-up]

I wouldn't use a pump. Our trucks have the reusable gaskets. In order to get all of the fluid out of mine, I ended up jacking up both sides of the axle up one at a time to get all of the fluid out of the tubes. Under the ring gear is a depression that traps some fluid even when the cover is off. I used my finger to sweep out all of the fluid I could.



Using a tube to pump the fluid out would surely result in some fluid left on the bottom of the pumpkin. It's pretty tight in there and you'd probably have a hard time getting the tube down to the bottom.



I put a little more than 4 qts in after I drained mine.