Front Diff. oil change ?

[cowboy701]

Hi All, Have another question !! how do you change the front diff. oil, found the fill port, but could not find a drain port, guess it has to be sucked out, Right ? and the rear the same ? or take all the bolts off ?? thanks Chuck BTW Its a 02 4x4.

 

[exbass94]

There is no drain plug. You need to suck the fluid out through the fill hole on the front diff. For the rear, you can take the cover off and clean the inside of the diff out.

 

[cowboy701]

Thanks exbass, I was afraid of that, guess I will just have to take it someplace where they have a good suction pump !!

 

[LearjetMinako]

Thanks exbass, I was afraid of that, guess I will just have to take it someplace where they have a good suction pump !!

Or just pump one of those $10 pumps from your local auto parts store.

 

[Surrey]

Like one of these...
http://www.princessauto.com/all-seasons/farm/transfer-pumps/manual/8006283-manual-transfer-pump-kit

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

im going to drill and tap the housing for a drain on our 05 sport trac as soon as something major goes bad like a wheel bearing or cv shaft. why ford wouldnt put a drain on the front axle but include one on the IRS explorer axle is beyond me?

 

[adsm08]

im going to drill and tap the housing for a drain on our 05 sport trac as soon as something major goes bad like a wheel bearing or cv shaft. why ford wouldnt put a drain on the front axle but include one on the IRS explorer axle is beyond me?

The front axle is not under load nearly as often as the rear axle. The fluid doesn't get stressed as badly, and generally there is no real need to change it unless it has become contaminated.

 

[WarriorPrincess]

If your brave enough you can drill a drain plug, use a correct size drill so you can tap a drain plug in and be sure to put a good amount of bearing grease on the drill to capture the iron filings.

 

[bilzy7]

It's zena!!! I knew an mp named zena... Lol ya she was nick named that... Ughh god the leather outfits she wore... Fit the name perfectly...

 

[adsm08]

It's zena!!! I knew an mp named zena... Lol ya she was nick named that... Ughh god the leather outfits she wore... Fit the name perfectly...

Was she at least semi-attractive?

 

[4.0B2]

If your brave enough you can drill a drain plug, use a correct size drill so you can tap a drain plug in and be sure to put a good amount of bearing grease on the drill to capture the iron filings.

i've seen this done.. worked well to..

 

[Beef52751]

grease on the drill bit is counter productive, it doesn't allow the drill to push the shavings out, plus drilling a drain plug, you have gravity on your side

 

[strvger]

well, if the intent is to change the fluid, why wouldn't you take the cover off and drill/tap it for a drain plug on your work bench. that way you could clean it really good, make sure all the old diff oil gets out, and have a new gasket on there before you refill it.
just the way i'd do it.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

The housings are aluminum, not steel.

The oil coming back out of the hole as you drill it will bring all the shavings out with it.

 

[Surrey]

well, if the intent is to change the fluid, why wouldn't you take the cover off and drill/tap it for a drain plug on your work bench. that way you could clean it really good, make sure all the old diff oil gets out, and have a new gasket on there before you refill it.
just the way i'd do it.

Except isn't the cover the axle beam on the front axle? Thats why you have to pump it out, unless you plan on dropping the axle pretty much...?