were to tap the d35 for a drain plug

[86ford]

just like most people who wheel there TTB vehicles i am taking water into my front diff on a regular basis. were should i tap the d35 to put a drain plug in that will not effect the function of the diff OR weaken it significantly.

86

 

[Destroyer000]

i taped mine about an inch or 2 right behind the rear pinion works great..

 

[86ford]

i taped mine about an inch or 2 right behind the rear pinion works great..

i some what concerned about tapping the cast aluminum. i was thinking about tapping the actual beam and welding a nut to the face of the bean for added threading.

86

 

[Todd]

My pig as tapped for a drain. Works great.

 

[metalmacguyver]

I used a very small plug, Did it right in the bottom next to one of the ribs about even with the edge of the beam so it would be a one in a million chance of a rock coming up and damaging the drain plug.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

mines right here:

i used an "add-a-plug" kit intended for automatic transmissions. it has a large, hollow, steel self tapping bolt that threads into the pig, with a smaller plug threaded into it. this way the plug that gets removed (the smaller one) is threaded into steel rather than aluminum - no worry about stripping threads.

yes it leaks, lol. i need to pull the plug out and pitch the cheasy little o-ring that came with it and install something decent.

 

[mjonesjr]

If you extend your breather tube up into the engine compartment you wont water in the diff as easy. All 3 of my breather tubes (front diff, transfer case, and rear diff) extend up into the engine compartment.

 

[4x4junkie]

Here's mine:

You'll need to look close, the hole is directly above the bottom bolt hole. It's tapped into that bolt hole so all you need to do is remove the bolt and the oil will flow out.
Do put a steel thread insert (helicoil) into that hole though so you don't have to deal with the aluminum threads stripping.

And +1 to what mjones said, get rid of that stupid "question-mark" breather tube thingy and run a line up where it won't get submerged as easy.


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[mjonesjr]

I ran all of my lines up to by the radiator cap. I am going to relocate them to the fire wall by the brake booster.

 

[Hahnsb2]

I like that junkie, I may consider that before I throw my 4.56 pig in. I'd feel more comfortable putting one in the beam and welding some sort of guard around it.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

mine is tucked well under the "lip" of the axle beam. its pretty well protected (ive smacked those beams on a lot of rocks and logs...being stock height like i am).

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Mine's in the same place as Wicked's is, I just used a drain plug with a nylon washer on it. No leaks in 3 years of wheeling. I'm not worried about hitting it as the beam protects it and I have a full 1/4" steel skid plate that covers the bottom of the D35 housing.

 

[86ford]

I ran all of my lines up to by the radiator cap. I am going to relocate them to the fire wall by the brake booster.

mine is already zip tied to the very top of one of my brake lines by the booster up front and the rear one goes through a drain plug under the rear seat and almost as high as the rear window. i dont think you guys understand when i talk about water/mud/soup etc. i am talking 3 FEET of water i am driving through. i wish i had pictures of how stupid deep the mud and water actually is at a few of my local wheeling locations. my rockers are 24 inches at the bottom and my doors are 25-26, i always have a river of water flowing into my back seat and out the drain holes (no drain plugs just the holes). the one time i got stuck beyond the b2s abilities the 33s were at least 28-30 inches under water/mud in the rear. ( i usually can use the skinny pedal and the redline to free myself).

86

 

[mjonesjr]

Too bad you were not closer, I would like to wheel with ya once.

 

[86ford]

Too bad you were not closer, I would like to wheel with ya once.

it would be a good time. the only down side of the trails we typically wheel is that body damage is going to happen 95% of the time. anything from scratches to caved in panels and if your really lucky you smash a window or roll over. another board member here gave me window sliders that i am 90% sure saved my from a broken rear window last time i was out. PM me if you want to contact them regarding having some made for you. as for the drain plug, i will pull the pig and put one in next time. i think junkie deserves a award for his creative ways of doing things, he never ceases to amaze me.

86