When is time, and how to change differential fluid?

[alvald83]

Ive just about finished everything else on my truck to make it a daily driver, but have not touched the differential or u-joints. Should i change these as routine maintainance? I am not one to do this myself, so, what should i expect to pay for these jobs ('69 f250 split drive shaft).[img]

IMG_7534%20copy.jpg

[/img]

[fordman]

i have no ideas on what shops charge to do certain jobs.

i would atleast grease the u joints and use them as is for now. they arent hard to change later.

to drain the dana 60 you pull the rear cover or loosen it i think. then there should be a plug on the side of the rear to refill with. you fill all the way to the bottom of the fill plug. so if it starts running out you are over full.

[robroy]

Good day Alvald83!

First, I must say that you're truck looks absolutely fantastic--what an excellent color combination.

As said by Fordman, the Dana 60 fluid's drained by removing the bolts that hold its cover on and letting it slosh out the crack. It's an uncivilized process.

Based on my one experience doing this, I'd recommend replacing the fluid during your next rear brake job, while you have the rear wheel bearings completely out of the picture.

I replaced my Dana 60 fluid for the first time last Spring. I took lots of photos of exactly how I pulled the cover off and cleaned the differential out, and even a video showing what happens when the cover's first removed! Just be sure to have a large basin positioned under the cover when you pull it loose. It's extremely messy!

1972 F250 12"x2.5" Bendix rear drum brake rebuild: advice?

A couple of special notes:

• Be sure not to loose the differential ID tag in the process of changing the fluid. Mine fell off in to the basin of old nasty oil and I accidentally tossed it.
• You might not want to clean your differential out with brake fluid like I did, unless you have both rear brakes completely removed. The differential cavity's open to the rear wheel bearings on these things, which means you'd be getting brake cleaner down there too, and the wheel bearings might not like being hit with a mixture of brake cleaner and differential housing crust!

Have a great Sunday Alvald83!
Robroy

[alvald83]

Thanks Guys, for the great info. Al

[mlheppl]

The only thingI'd add to the above posts is to read the ID tag on your rear differential if it's still there. An open carrier differential will use a regular gear oil. A limited slip type of differential will require a different type of oil. If you put regular gear oil in a limited slip type differential, the viscosity will be too low and the carrier will not "lock" when it is supposed to. If the ID tag is no longer present, an easy way to tell what type of carrier is installed is to jack up the rear of the truck. With both rear wheels in the air spin one of the tires. Watch the opposite tire while doing this. If the opposite tire rotates in the same direction as the tire you're spinning then you've got some type of limited slip carier. If the tire spins in the opposite direction then you've got an open carrier.
Mike

[Montana71-F100]

My shop manual says you can siphon it too. I read not long ago that it should be changed every 50,000 miles.