DC199512V87

where is a good place to drill and tap a drain plug into the front diff of my 1995 so i don't always hafta b cleaning the gasket off and buying a new one every time i change the oil? front, back, right on the bottom? ill b taking off the cover to drill and tap this time so i don't hit any gears....

oldblues

hi
i dont use a gasket just some mopar diff silicone sealer from mopar parts dept .
one tube would be enough for app 4 covers easily ?
the frount diff does not turn unless in 4 wd so it only rarely needs changed for me ?

DC199512V87

ok....i was gonna use gaskets but thats impossible to find in my town for some reason so i will use silicone. i know that about the front diff but i bought it used and just wanna do it so i know where things are at...peace of mind. funny that the rear has no drain either...

joem

Just use blue rtv, works great and I only change my front diff fluid every 100k anyway.

Purplezr2

They even make gaskets, I just use gasket make, gives me a chance to look at the gears.

infidel

I think it's good that you have to remove the cover, gives you a chance to wipe the sludge off the bottom of the diff.
If I were to tap in a drain plug it would be on the bottom of the differential itself, not the cover.
100k mile changes using synthetic Royal Purple oil so it's no big deal for me to remove the cover and silicone it back on.

Remember the factory fill spec on the differentials is 3/4" below the bottom of the fill plug in the front 1/2" in the rear.
If you fill to the bottom of the hole you're just inviting higher fluid temperatures and eventual leakage from the axle seals.

DC199512V87

ended up using black gasket maker and not drilling anything....just another place to create a leak. And i used Mobil shc 629 with a tube of limited slip additive. didn't know about the fill level though. i filled to the bottom of the drain, but the front was higher than the back so i shouldn't b overfilled. good stuff to know

joem

I also filled mine to the threads- my truck was up on a lift so the axle was tilted a bit forward though. I just used 80w90 as the only time its used is in the super cold snow or just a few hundred feet on a steep gravel road when pulling our trailer to the huntin spot

johnh

these differentials are not designed to be drained very often because they don't need it i personally have only changed mine to put in a different type (synthetic) in 260,000 miles

infidel

Dodge says if you don't tow that you don't have to change the diff fluid at all.
Not sure if I believe that...