I recently bought a '96 2500 4x4 CTD. After reading the horror stories about the fuel filter location, I thought how bad can it be.... I was wrong it is a huge PITA. I have looked over every piece of advice on how to get it out without making a mess but I still couldnt get it right. Anyway, I was replacing the fuel lines from the tank to the engine today and I removed the brake booster to get access and VOILA!!!! Easy access to everything back there. No need to loosen any of the brake lines. There are only 6 fasteners, 2 on the master cylinder and 4 in the cab for the booster. One little clip that hold the pushrod to the pedal and its out. It took me all of 5 minutes to get all the room you could ask for. (Pictures taken before filter change....)

Pictures @
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cb4

 

It's alot easier than that. you should be able to loosen it by hand, lower it down, then forward and it lifts out in front of all the brake stuff, no need to remove anything.

 

It is easier, all that needs to be removed on trucks with vacuum assist brakes is the two nuts that hold the master to the booster. The booster can stay. The whole unit will swing easily away giving more than enough room to work.
A dealer service bulletin came out in '94 outlining this as part of the filter changing procedure.

 

Geno's garage sells a relocation kit for these...
Has anyone tried these? Are they worth the money (in your opinion), and does it result in the relocated filter getting in the way of other things?

 

I have owned mine for five years and no problem getting the fillter off. get some thing to stand on and geter done

 

I don't have a bunch of trouble getting mine out either. I always drain it before I loosen it. Try to not get any fuel on the pre-heater wiring. I've read somewhere it causes the wiring harness to burn up. No idea if it's true, but something causes them to go as it's a pretty common problem.

 

The Prime-Loc relocation kits are a pain in the rear when you need to get to the injection pump. After learning of the move the master trick I know of several people who have ditched the Prime-Loc.

 

I took your advice on loosening the two bolts on the master when I did mine. Couldn't imagine doing it any other way. Thanks! What I also did, since I have a 4x4, is roll the truck down the driveway to where the front tires were in the gutter. That lowered the front end of the truck so it was much easier to reach the back of the engine bay.

 

I just use a strap type filter wrench ($7 at Advance) and it only takes a few mins to spin it off and put a new one on. I work from the top to take it off and lower it down and rest it on the frame rail and remove it from the bottom.

Just have to check the vac lines when you are done and make sure you dont pull one loose.

 

Anthony, next time try the move the master trick. It's very easy and I guarantee you will never do it any other way after trying it.

 

Bill...Im changing it this afternoon, I'll give it a try.

Thanks!

 

changed mine this morining in about 10 minutes and that is because i had to answer the phone. large oil filter wrench goes on there, i use the big pliers that i have for doing semis and then off she goes. spilled a little but oh well. didn't spill any when i put it in.... oh my trick is to kneel on the 33-12.50 bfg when removing. but i have a 95 not a 96 so maybe

 

C'mon man, 10 mins? That's how long it takes me to find my wrench.

 

OK....loosen with filter wrench just one turn....remove filter wrench....put heavy zip lock baggie over filter....spin bag and filter off in one assembly...all fuel spills in baggie....zip it up and toss it....fill new filter with fuel....put new baggie over and spin on as tight as you can get with your hands...thats all folks...Oh yeah....remove bag and hook up water sensor wire.


And...go to hardware store and buy step ladder first.....falling off 5 gal bucket gets old

 

forgot to say i own my own repair facility and it hangs on the wall close to my pit. down in the hole i positioned an oil drain to catch the spilled diesel. the longest part was filling up the filter before install since the genius(me) filled the 6 gallon jug to the top with fuel