Front diff fluid change

[Burns]

Can someone tell me how to change the fluid? CHiltons says the drain plug's on the back and that the front comes off, but looking at it, it looks like if I were to do that the entire front of that half of the axle would have to come off. Maybe I'm missing something?

 

[Broncobill78]

Can someone tell me how to change the fluid? CHiltons says the drain plug's on the back and that the front comes off, but looking at it, it looks like if I were to do that the entire front of that half of the axle would have to come off. Maybe I'm missing something?

Heay, that one's kinda a bitch. I think your Chilton's is refering to a Dana44 straight axle which DOES have a front cover, but the 44IFS (which is what we lucky guys with 80-96's have) not only doesn't have a front cover (well it sorta does but as you surmised it involves taking the whole freaking ting apart) but it has one of Ford's better ideas: the fill/drain plug. Why drill & tap TWO holes when you can get away with just one ? In the front you have that big 1/2" square plug, *that's* your boy. you fill & drain thru there. Now I know that really doesn't make a lot of sense but then we ARE talking about a major manufacturer here so who says anything they do has to make sense ? You'll need to use either a vacuum kit, or a turkey-baster with a vacuum hose stuck onto the end or some other method of sucking the gear oil out of the diff thru that hole. Once you've gotten it as empty as you can you'll refill it till it reaches the bottom of the hole (like you could put more into it even if you *wanted* <grin&gt and then you're done. It's not as simple as it would be if you had a drain plug & it's not nearly as clean but that's the way Ford made them. Next time you have your front end torn down (like if you ever change gears of differentials) do yourself a favor & drill & tap yourself a drain hole. I guess you could do it now if you were brave enuf & confident in your drill-handling reflexes but that one's a judgement call.

 

[Burns]

Heay, that one's kinda a bitch. I think your Chilton's is refering to a Dana44 straight axle which DOES have a front cover, but the 44IFS (which is what we lucky guys with 80-96's have) not only doesn't have a front cover (well it sorta does but as you surmised it involves taking the whole freaking ting apart) but it has one of Ford's better ideas: the fill/drain plug. Why drill & tap TWO holes when you can get away with just one ? In the front you have that big 1/2" square plug, *that's* your boy. you fill & drain thru there. Now I know that really doesn't make a lot of sense but then we ARE talking about a major manufacturer here so who says anything they do has to make sense ? You'll need to use either a vacuum kit, or a turkey-baster with a vacuum hose stuck onto the end or some other method of sucking the gear oil out of the diff thru that hole. Once you've gotten it as empty as you can you'll refill it till it reaches the bottom of the hole (like you could put more into it even if you *wanted* <grin&gt and then you're done. It's not as simple as it would be if you had a drain plug & it's not nearly as clean but that's the way Ford made them. Next time you have your front end town down (like if you ever change gears of differentials) do yourself a favor & drill & tap yourself a drain hole. I guess you could do it now if you were brave enuf & confident in your drill-handling reflexes but that one's a judgement call.

You know what? I think that'll wait till the straight axle makes its way in. Otherwise, I'll spend the hour or so sucking the fluid out with a turkey baster haha. I was hoping it'd be like the rear, just pop the cover off and tada, better have a pan underneath. But it's never that simple, is it? Thanks BroncoBill.