Q's on changing axel fluid

[DFrank]

I am getting ready to change my differential fluid. I bought 2 gallons of Amsoil to use. It is 75-90 and has the GL 2-5 5 specs on the bottle.



I assume I should remove the covers while everything is hot.



How long will it take to drain all the fluid? Would it be good to let them drip dry overnight?



Do you have to physically clean anything?



What are the tourque specs for reinstallation?



I know the seals claim to be reusable. Any chance I will destroy them on removal?



Do I need any other sealant?



Any pitfalls to avoid?



Is an oil pan big enough or should I get a big transmission type catcher?



TIA for any tips. Been putting this off for a while now.

 

[Jengle]

I just wiped out the diffs as best I could with a clean rag. The cover, I wiped out, and then used gunk on it. Hosed it off and dried it, it looked new. I didn't use any sealer on the diff fill plug and it weeped a little fluid. I stopped that with some teflon tape. Oil pan is plenty big enough. My original seals came off just fine, and I wiped them down, and re-installed with no problem. I just ran it out to Muncie and back with no more leak.

 

[CIverson]

Originally posted by DFrank

I am getting ready to change my differential fluid. I bought 2 gallons of Amsoil to use. It is 75-90 and has the GL 2-5 5 specs on the bottle.



I assume I should remove the covers while everything is hot.



How long will it take to drain all the fluid? Would it be good to let them drip dry overnight?



Do you have to physically clean anything?



What are the tourque specs for reinstallation?



I know the seals claim to be reusable. Any chance I will destroy them on removal?



Do I need any other sealant?



Any pitfalls to avoid?



Is an oil pan big enough or should I get a big transmission type catcher?



TIA for any tips. Been putting this off for a while now.

Dosen't really matter if the oil is hot or cold, but it will flow better when warm.



Might have to wipe off any dirt that gets in there, when I took off my covers there was some sand trapped between the lip of the cover and the housing above the seal that fell in, even after pressure washing the axles.



Seals will be just fine, wipe them down.



Don't need any other sealant.



I always clean the edge of the cover w/ a wire wheel, and spray the inside of the cover w/ alot of brake parts cleaner to get all the dirt off, then go over it a few times w/ cleaner and paper towels. I also take the bolts over to the grinder w/ the wire wheel and get all the gunk off them also.

 

[Bertram65]

I think that gunk on the bolts is blue loctite or something just like it. When I changed my cover I used new stainless bolts and put on blue loctite. You may want to put some type of serviceable thread locker on when you put the bolts back in.

 

[DFrank]

Thanks for the comments. Any beta on Torque?

 

[CIverson]

Originally posted by DFrank

Thanks for the comments. Any beta on Torque?

Until it's tight

 

[Jengle]

Oh, and wipe off the bottom of the diff, real clean, so that if it leaks any, you will be able to tell.

 

[jawmail]

Torque values

The cover bolts torque value is 30 ft. lbs and the fill plug is 24 ft. lbs. (front and rear).