Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
NO, not ME - but a good mod for yer truck!
Back in the "good old days", vehicles came with differential covers that included a drain plug for fast and easy user servicing.
For whatever reason, those plugs are no longer there, so owners wanting to service their own differentials are forced into a rather messy and time consuming chore - one that usually sees both the owner and the driveway or garage floor thoroughly "lubricated"... :-laf
On both my old '91, and the current '02, here's a mod I did during the first messy lube change to make later ones lots faster and easier:
-
That is a plain pipe plug that is used after drilling and tapping the lowest part of the differential cover when it's off the truck for routine servicing - mine is a common 1/8 inch piece - other sizes can be used depending on owner preference.
The single most important caution, is to CAREFULLY tap the threads for the size plug selected. Otherwise, if the tapped threads go too deep, there's a possibility the plug will insert too deeply, creating interference with internal parts - usually the ring gear.
This is an easy, and quite practical mod that will make differential servicing lots neater and easier. The only reason remaining for occasional differential cover removal, would be to visually inspect gears, or clean the debris magnet in the bottom of the housing - but that doesn't need to be done very often for most of us.
ENJOY!
Back in the "good old days", vehicles came with differential covers that included a drain plug for fast and easy user servicing.
For whatever reason, those plugs are no longer there, so owners wanting to service their own differentials are forced into a rather messy and time consuming chore - one that usually sees both the owner and the driveway or garage floor thoroughly "lubricated"... :-laf
On both my old '91, and the current '02, here's a mod I did during the first messy lube change to make later ones lots faster and easier:
-
That is a plain pipe plug that is used after drilling and tapping the lowest part of the differential cover when it's off the truck for routine servicing - mine is a common 1/8 inch piece - other sizes can be used depending on owner preference.
The single most important caution, is to CAREFULLY tap the threads for the size plug selected. Otherwise, if the tapped threads go too deep, there's a possibility the plug will insert too deeply, creating interference with internal parts - usually the ring gear.
This is an easy, and quite practical mod that will make differential servicing lots neater and easier. The only reason remaining for occasional differential cover removal, would be to visually inspect gears, or clean the debris magnet in the bottom of the housing - but that doesn't need to be done very often for most of us.
ENJOY!
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