dana axles

[don b]

decided to change oil on front and rear axles today. i could not see drain plugs. do the covers have to be removed? what is the recomended change interval on axles and transfer case? thanks

 

[DKasper]

Don,

Yes, you need to remove the covers. I have an old screwdriver that I ground down to kind of a knife profile that I use to get the removal of the covers started. Once you get the covers off and the diffs are draining, clean off all the old RTV reallly well so you get a good seal when you reinstall



Then it's just a matter of putting new RTV on and re-installing the covers.



Pretty easy stuff --even I can do it!

As far as frequency, I'll do my front once in 75,000 miles and the lube still isn't dirty. I do the rear every year -- about 30k.



Have fun!



Dave

 

[radcam]

Yes covers have to be removed to drain the diffs. I believe the change interval for the diffs is 30k miles on my Ford. If you ford streams it is a good idea to drain the diffs and repack wheel bearings when you are back on dry ground. Not sure what the recomended change interval is on your transmission and t-case, probably close to the same as the diffs.

 

[BigEasy]

Does anyone here wash out the diff? I was taught after draining the gear oil, to rinse out the diff with a can of Carb Cleaner... to get all the little bits and sediment out. Anyone else do this?

 

[bgilbert]

90 weight throughout. YEs I use brake cleaner to clean out the diffs. Then I use compressed air to force some of the old oil out, plus to evaporate the brake cleaner. Anytime you back your boat into the river and the rear axle gets immersed or you go 4wheeling through a creek and the rear axle is immersed or front for that matter, change diff oil and clean them out.