Changing diff cover gasket- anything to look out for?

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Nobody

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May 9, 2000

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Kenmore, WA

Apr 17, 2005

#1

• Apr 17, 2005

• #1

She's dripping oil from the diff. I need to to put a new gasket in there. I referred to my Haynes manual and it looks straight forward. Are there any hidden issues that I should be aware of?

Thanks,
Gabe

 

1105

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May 3, 2003

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Daytona Bch, FL

Apr 17, 2005

#2

• Apr 17, 2005

• #2

pretty simple fix. Just clean the area really good with brake clean before you install the gasket. A lot of people also just use grey RTV. Thats what I did last, and works great.

 

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mikeflys1

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Aug 27, 2002

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CT

Apr 17, 2005

#3

• Apr 17, 2005

• #3

Yeah i just used RTV but it really is pretty easy. Maybe 15-20 minute job tops.

 

Car Nut

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Jul 6, 2000

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Snellville, Georgia (Atlanta area)

Apr 17, 2005

#4

• Apr 17, 2005

• #4

Might as well get synthetic fluid and don't forget the friction modifier fluid.

I bought some goofy pump to get the fluid in there. Obviously you can't just pour fluid in, so I found the pump at the auto store when searching for fluid.

 

RIO5.0

15 Year Member

Feb 16, 2001

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N.H.

Apr 17, 2005

#5

• Apr 17, 2005

• #5

Get ready for the stank....dif lube has got to be the worse...
Take some rags and clean the housing good...theres lots of grunge with metal grindings and such on the bottom..

 

1105

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Daytona Bch, FL

Apr 17, 2005

#6

• Apr 17, 2005

• #6

RIO5.0 said:

Get ready for the stank....dif lube has got to be the worse...
Take some rags and clean the housing good...theres lots of grunge with metal grindings and such on the bottom..

Click to expand...

you arent kidding either about that diff lube... Get some traction modifier and put it on the lid of someones cup After I did my gear swap, my car smelled horrible for a few weeks even driving with the windows down because of that stuff.

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

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Apr 17, 2005

#7

• Apr 17, 2005

• #7

i dumped the oil bucket on my leg once - i stunk (worse than normal) for weeks. those jogging pants had to be relegated to 'garage duty'.

I am with Andy - clean stuff really really well. it takes many papertowels to wipe the bottom of the pumpkin dry (which also helps keep the old stuff from seeping down while applying the gasket and RTV).

i am a gasket and RTV guy. now if you get a girdle, many come with drain plugs for future use.

 

89MustangGX

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Jul 3, 2001

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Mill Creek, WA

Apr 18, 2005

#8

• Apr 18, 2005

• #8

I've used a gasket before, gasket and RTV, and just RTV. I saw no difference bwteen any of them, so now I just use RTV.

The number one thing I can tell you: Make sure you can get the fill plug out first! They can sometimes be real tough. If you drain the fluid and can't put it back in, you will turn red and probably want to drive your car off a cliff (but don't try -- the rear will lockup without fluid and make you even more mad).

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

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Apr 18, 2005

#9

• Apr 18, 2005

• #9

Adam, do you remember the thread in 5.0 tech where the guy thought he had to drop the rear and turn it so the pumpkin cover was facing the sky, in order to fill it back up? i think he was serious too.

 

89MustangGX

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Mill Creek, WA

Apr 19, 2005

#10

• Apr 19, 2005

• #10

HISSIN50 said:

Adam, do you remember the thread in 5.0 tech where the guy thought he had to drop the rear and turn it so the pumpkin cover was facing the sky, in order to fill it back up? i think he was serious too.

Click to expand...

I wish I did -- it sounds like a good one!

 

N

Nobody

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Apr 19, 2005

#11

• Apr 19, 2005

• #11

All finished! Not a single hitch. I didn't even get any of the Friction Modifier smell anywhere - I used rubber gloves and bagged up the FM bottle and gloves right afterward.

Thanks for all the advice guys - this is a great example of how stangnet should work.

 

mo_dingo

20+ Year Stangneter

Aug 26, 2003

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Tucson, AZ

Apr 19, 2005

#12

• Apr 19, 2005

• #12

Nobody said:

All finished! Not a single hitch. I didn't even get any of the Friction Modifier smell anywhere - I used rubber gloves and bagged up the FM bottle and gloves right afterward.

Thanks for all the advice guys - this is a great example of how stangnet should work.

Click to expand...

Umm....I didn't know the FM smelled bad. It's the gear oil that smells bad.
Scott

 

AznStanger3v

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Aug 11, 2003

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Northern VA

Apr 19, 2005

#13

• Apr 19, 2005

• #13

no, its the friction modifier. the oil smells pretty gross, but the friction modifier is gross as hell. i used to put it on a rag and give it to my buddies when they put it in their back pockets. they would search forever to find the smell.