concerned about my front diff

[Fletch56]

Hey all, I was hoping to get some help on a front diff question. I have a 98 ranger 4x4 xlt and according to everything I can read it should have a dana 35. yet when i get under it it has the smooth housing like all the pics i see of dana 28's. to add it also seems to have no drain plug on the front just an odd plug (extension, square) on the side. When I looked into that, it says that is indicative of a 2wd front end... A little stumped here. my main concern is I just ticked 100k and the book tells me to replace the gear oil and since I flipped the 4x4 switch a month or so ago in some mud and got a bit of a grinding sound it needs to be looked in to. does anyone know about the actual ID concerns I have as well as from what I described should I be concerned about the 4wd system? thanks for any and all help.

 

[brinker88]

...you dont have TTB bro...you have independant susp.

TTB

1998+ Dana 35

 

[88_Eddie]

^ what he said, 97 was the last year for TTB

 

[Fletch56]

Thanks! That was totally the pic I needed! Now that I know what I have, any ideas on getting the front cover off while still on the vehicle? That cross brace sits right in front of it and would rather avoid removing it if possible. This retarded siphon pump I got to remove the fluid is a joke. I pulled about maybe a half pint out but that is obviously not enough since I believe it hold like 1.75 qts. Waiting to attempt the rear till I can get the front done. Atleast that is easy to just pull the cover.

Wanted to drain the transfer case too but seems like I have to drop the whole thing? any ideas

 

[88_Eddie]

never worked on a ifs front diff. i thought there was a drain plug for it though?

 

[Fletch56]

LOL, it's a drain/fill plug. it's a silly way to do it. there should be one of each.

 

[Explorin94]

Thanks! That was totally the pic I needed! Now that I know what I have, any ideas on getting the front cover off while still on the vehicle? That cross brace sits right in front of it and would rather avoid removing it if possible. This retarded siphon pump I got to remove the fluid is a joke. I pulled about maybe a half pint out but that is obviously not enough since I believe it hold like 1.75 qts. Waiting to attempt the rear till I can get the front done. Atleast that is easy to just pull the cover.

Wanted to drain the transfer case too but seems like I have to drop the whole thing? any ideas

The transfercase should have a lower drain on it. Look on the backside towards the very bottom. There should be a plug with a 3/8 square for your ratchet.

 

[Fletch56]

Thanks found it. Had a dampener in front of it. Still think the front diff design is silly

 

[Earl43P]

I suctioned the gear oil out of my 2000 (4wd) front diff. Wasn't dramatic.
I used the cheapo suction pump and added some additional tubing for ease of use (suction pump only came with about 14" of tubing). That way, I was able to leave the added tubing bottomed out in the diff while I emptied out the pump repeatedly.

Think of it this way....most people NEVER change their diff oil and axles still last the life of the vehicle. You're suctioning out say, 90% of the old oil. If you are smart, you put in synthetic (since that is the "standard" for these trucks) gear oil, like 80-140.

Call it good.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

To remove the cover the differential assembly has to come out of the truck. It takes standard 75/90 or 80/90. Synthetic was used in the rear diff, not the fronts.

 

[Gotta_gofast]

No reason to NOT throw in synthetic lube while you are their. I ended up making a device out of a 5 gallon bucket (with lid) a six foot 1/4" hose coming out the top and another 2" hose that connects to my shop vac. Turn the shop vac on and work the 1/4" hose around in the diff (or anything else I need it for) and it all drops into the bucket leaving the vacuum clean.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

No reason to NOT throw in synthetic lube while you are their. I ended up making a device out of a 5 gallon bucket (with lid) a six foot 1/4" hose coming out the top and another 2" hose that connects to my shop vac. Turn the shop vac on and work the 1/4" hose around in the diff (or anything else I need it for) and it all drops into the bucket leaving the vacuum clean.

Great idea! I do a similar thing using engine vacuum for my brake and clutch bleeding.

Richard