Water in front diff

[joker]

in my 05 tj. is it a tough fix or something i can do my self?

[fug]

It's pretty straightforward and you're going to get good at it if you wheel alot

Remove cover, drain bad oil/water out, clean up cover/diff mating surfaces, apply liberal amounts of RTV, bolt cover back up, fill with your favorite gear oil

[Immortal]

has anyone here tapped in a drain/plug for this very reason?

[dac]

Would it be worth getting an aftermarket diff cover for protection?  As expensive as they ar the ARB's are nice because they have the drain plug, but at the same time maybe it'd be better to take a peak inside when you change the oil?

[Immortal]

hmmmm.... good point re: inspection

[tubby]

You could also use a hand pump with a tube and slip it into the fill plug. Keep sucking old fluid until nothing comes out and re-fill with new oil.

[JackstandJohnny]

You could also use a hand pump with a tube and slip it into the fill plug. Keep sucking old fluid until nothing comes out and re-fill with new oil.

used to do that with my old Ford and the TTB front end. NOT fun; still don't know how much crap still sits in there, can't really inspect it either or clean the old stuff out. pull cover its easy, then u can check ur gears and stuff too for metal shards etc.

[tubby]

Johnny,  thats funny cause I use to do that with my TTB also.
I found enough sand to fill a sandbox in my Bronco's diff. I'm not kidding.
I've never seen what the internals look like, and I don't want to know.

[JackstandJohnny]

Johnny,  thats funny cause I use to do that with my TTB also.
I found enough sand to fill a sandbox in my Bronco's diff. I'm not kidding.
I've never seen what the internals look like, and I don't want to know.

i saw them once..... when we did a gear swap........... all i can say is: i'm really, REALLY glad we were doing the gear swap.........

[mike s]

Drill and tapping stock housing is a great idea. Use a magnetic drain plug to catch particles and hold them out of harms way- every eat bubble gum and potato chips at the same time? As so far as inspecting gears while servicing fluids, you'll hear the problem well before you see it. Check diff vent while your getting dirty. Seen tons plugged up and when you get that hot diff cold- like dunking it in cold water/mud, it cools and contracts creating a vaccum inside pulling water by the axle seals. Best to run a new hose way up high with a see-through fuel filter in the end to keep crud out.

[tubby]

Another idea would be to use a clear diff cover . If you wheel through a lot of water and want to inspect your fluid a lot. Trans Dapt makes one for a Dana-30 that uses the same material as bullet-proof glass. Looks cool.

[calltrex]

has anyone here tapped in a drain/plug for this very reason?

the ruby D44s have a drain plug.  I changed fluids in a flash

[01sahara]

Would it be worth getting an aftermarket diff cover for protection?  As expensive as they ar the ARB's are nice because they have the drain plug, but at the same time maybe it'd be better to take a peak inside when you change the oil?

I like the ARB one, that is what I am upgrading to.
 
I will be selling a Rockcrusher diff cover for a Dana 35 next month when my new parts are in. $90 . No drain plug but much cheaper than the ARB.

[newfie]

why ya swaping out the Rockcrusher for the ARB if ya dont mind me asking

[XJHERO]

why ya swaping out the Rockcrusher for the ARB if ya dont mind me asking

drain plugs and magnets on drain plug and dipstick
oh and probly cus he has a arb air locker in it.