Basic diff lube maintenance

**Mean Max** · 03-14-2009, 08:39 PM

Okay, so most of us think that basic maintenance is no big deal. But, not everybody has a lot of experience, and may be intimidated by even the simplest of tasks. So, I changed my Dana 30 front axle lube today & took a few pics along the way.

First, check to make sure that you can remove the fill plug. After you've removed the cover & drained the lube, it's a bad time to find out that you can't get the fill plug out!

Next, remove all the diff cover bolts, with the exception of the one at the very top. Loosen the top one, but leave it threaded in the axle housing to deflect the fluid into the drain pan.

Inspect the inside of the diff housing & cover for metal shavings, and also inspect the gear teeth for chips & pitting.

Clean the cover & housing gasket surfaces. I used a Lube Locker brand reusable gasket.

Reinstall the cover & tighten all the bolts. Then refill the diff housing with lube until it is filled to the bottom of the drain plug opening. Test drive & check for leaks.

NOTE!

Lockers & limited slip equipped differentials may require special lubricant. Check with the manufacturer of the locker or LSD unit for additive requirements.

Per Ford, the 8.8 requires the use of 75-140 synthetic lube and if it has a limited slip differential it also requires the addition of limited slip additive.

The 8.8 with a typical pinion angle for SYE takes about 4 quarts of fluid, well OVER the stock fill hole level, in order to keep the pinion lubricated when rotated up for the SYE and/or lift. An aftermarket cover with high fill hole is pretty much a requirement unless you left the ABS sensor hole open for filling purposes. You can use tall jackstands to lift it, or you can park on one heck of a slant!

Max

**Ridin' Around** · 03-14-2009, 08:41 PM

Nice write up thanks!

**Joe Dillard** · 03-14-2009, 08:48 PM

Nicely done. The clear & concise pics along with the PP data in a nice touch.

Brads_nky_yj · 03-14-2009, 08:51 PM

Great write up max! Sometimes, even the simplest tasks can be scary for people, and after they do it they go on to bigger and more challenging taks (<------Like me, I once knew nothing of 4wds, used to be a tuner boy, and now Im addicted to Jeeps

)

**Mean Max** · 03-14-2009, 09:01 PM

Thanks guys!

I always see "basic question" threads from the "new guys" who have never owned a vehicle like a Jeep that captures your heart & soul, and begs you to get involved with it the way we do. Maybe they're high school kids with their first vehicle, maybe they're "office guys" looking for a vehicle to transport them to an exciting place, instead of just to work & back like those appliance-like econoboxes do. Either way, they need & want a way to do things they've possibly never done before.

With that in mind I bought a nice little camera, opened a photobucket account, and plan on documenting as many things as I can as I go along.

Tomorrow, I'll be replacing a clutch master cylinder on a '89 2.5L/AX-5 equipped YJ, and I hope to be able to take some mystery out of that very common, simple repair.

Max

Rproject · 04-05-2009, 07:01 PM

Where do you get the reusable gaskets? My local parts stores know nothing about them.

**Mean Max** · 04-05-2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rproject

Where do you get the reusable gaskets? My local parts stores know nothing about them.

At www.quadratec.com for $16.99 each

Dana 30
http://www.quadratec.com/products/52416_100.htm

Dana 35
http://www.quadratec.com/products/52416_103.htm

Max

**shaggyjim** · 04-05-2009, 09:19 PM

How is that lube locker Max? Is it living up to the hype and worth the money?

miwoodar · 04-05-2009, 10:34 PM

Thanks, Max. I just changed my tranny fluid this weekend for the first time and was starting to look for threads on diff fluid when I found this one. It fits the bill perfectly. Short and sweet with quality pics!

BTW - out of curiosity, I called a couple local lube shops but couldn't find one that would put 10w30 in my AX5.

shrewd · 04-06-2009, 12:36 AM

Wonderful. Helpful posts like this save people money and get them in tune with their jeeps.

Alvy · 04-06-2009, 05:05 AM

Great write up Max. Do you know if there is one for the 8.8 with a CV drive shaft installed? Mine like most is at a pretty severe angle and I filled it to the bottom of the fill hole. I want to make sure that the pinion bearings are getting enough oil because it seems that after a while of driving the pinion portion of the rear axle is getting very hot. It looks like I'm submerging half of the pinion bearings at least in relation to the fill hole but I just want to make sure I don't smoke my new 8.8. Any suggestions?

**Mean Max** · 04-06-2009, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaggyjim

How is that lube locker Max? Is it living up to the hype and worth the money?

I've re-used them several times on both of our YJ's, and I have a set waiting to go on the WJ soon too.

I love them, no RTV mess to clean up, no getting goo on your fingers putting it back together, no waiting for RTV to dry before refilling the diff housing (IMO, waiting is a REALLY good way to forget to refill & then smoke your diff!), and no mess the next time when you pull it apart.

They're required equipment in my book, I'm sold.

Max

**Mean Max** · 04-06-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alvy

Great write up Max. Do you know if there is one for the 8.8 with a CV drive shaft installed? Mine like most is at a pretty severe angle and I filled it to the bottom of the fill hole. I want to make sure that the pinion bearings are getting enough oil because it seems that after a while of driving the pinion portion of the rear axle is getting very hot. It looks like I'm submerging half of the pinion bearings at least in relation to the fill hole but I just want to make sure I don't smoke my new 8.8. Any suggestions?

They do make one for the 8.8 Ford axle and it's the same price, $16.99 at Q-tec.

http://www.quadratec.com/products/52416_105.htm

It doesn't matter about the CV shaft with regards to the gasket, but I have heard that some aftermarket companies make good armor style diff covers to replace the paper thin 8.8 OE covers, and maybe you could contact them & see about the fill plug height. Putting it a bit higher on the cover could help you get better pinion lube.

Here is my favorite brand. I don't have them yet, but I intend to!

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/index.php

Max

yjman92 · 05-16-2009, 05:21 PM

Max, so there is no need for gasket sealer when this reusable gasket is used?

**Mean Max** · 05-16-2009, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yjman92

Max, so there is no need for gasket sealer when this reusable gasket is used?

No. That's the whole purpose behind it's design. It has an RTV (or similar) product embedded into the gasket itself, and it remains "rubbery" to allow for a long service life. The axle in this write-up had RTV gooped in it, and this was the first time I had used a LubeLocker gasket on this particular cover. I have them on all our (we have 3 Jeeps) other diff housings, and this Dana 30 was the last one to get one. The others have been apart & back together many times with no leaks or signs of wear on the re-usable gaskets.

See the red lines? That feels the same as RTV sealer.

I'm sold on them, I would never choose anything else as long as these are available!

Max

03-14-2009, 08:51 PM	#4
Brads_nky_yj Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northern Kentucky/Cinci Area Posts: 3,035 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Great write up max! Sometimes, even the simplest tasks can be scary for people, and after they do it they go on to bigger and more challenging taks (<------Like me, I once knew nothing of 4wds, used to be a tuner boy, and now Im addicted to Jeeps ) __________________ 93 YJ - SOLD