Replacing rear diff cover

Joe 5.0

Founding Member

Feb 1, 2002

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Macomb, MI (metro detroit)

Mar 9, 2006

#1

• Mar 9, 2006

• #1

mines REALLLY leaking now so i need to address it. I bought the chrome cover off summit and it came with a set of bolts. I know it just bolts on, but can i drain the fluid first so it doesnt make a mess? How about torque specs and what kind of fluid to refill it with?

Also should i use the gasket it came with, or just use some RTV?

 

R.J.

Member

Aug 20, 2003

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Warwick, Rhode Island

Mar 9, 2006

#2

• Mar 9, 2006

• #2

The fluid will drain when you take the cover off. Do the bottom bolts first and work your way up, you can get it to drain with out making a mess. TQ on the cover bolts is good-and-tight. Just use RTV for the gasket. Go with Moble 1 or Royal purple Synth gear oil. There is a lot of brands out there but these two are highly reccomended by many. Also get a bottle of Ford Fricton Modifier for the clutch discs in the diff.
I would do a Moble 1 or Royal Purple tranni fluid swap while your under the car.

 

GRGT1994

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Sep 22, 2004

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Mar 9, 2006

#3

• Mar 9, 2006

• #3

That friction modifier is stinky stuff, so put a big oil drain pan underneath. Then remove all but the last few bolts, leaving just a few bolts in on the top - loosen those, but not all the way. Then use a pry bar to break the seal and dump the oil. This way the oil will dump down in a somewhat controlled manner. If you take off all the bolts and pop the cover in one motion, you will have a mess.

Use a long pry bar so your arm is not under the rear end, unless you want a shower (again - it's really stinky stuff).

Since you are replacing the cap, you could drill a hole in the bottom of the old one to drain. But that's really overkill. You should be able to drain as I described without much trouble. And you risk knicking the gears if you drill the cap while installed. This brings up another point, you might want to use a replacement cap with a drain plug (for future use).

If you are really concerned about making a mess, then spread out a layer of newspapers (5 sheets thick or so) underneath the entire back of the car and dump kitty litter over all of that to absobe any mess. Again, overkill - but it won't hurt to have the kitty litter on hand.

Wow, I just wrote way too much on a pretty insignificant issue.

 

J

joekd

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Dec 21, 2005

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Mar 9, 2006

#4

• Mar 9, 2006

• #4

When I installed my TA diff cover I used black RTV, no gasket

 

94-302-vert

Active Member

Aug 16, 2004

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NE CT

Mar 9, 2006

#5

• Mar 9, 2006

• #5

you gotta remove the swaybar too.. but that is easy... then follwo directions above. I usually use a couple cans of brake cleaner and some lint free rags to clean out any residual stuff... last time I used valvoline gear oil and it has the friction modifier in it already...

 

Stangfreak95

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Nov 4, 2002

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In your sister. If none, your mom

Mar 9, 2006

#6

• Mar 9, 2006

• #6

Absolutely no need to remove the swaybar dude. I did this a few times and the swaybar wasnt a problem at all.

 

94-302-vert

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Aug 16, 2004

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NE CT

Mar 9, 2006

#7

• Mar 9, 2006

• #7

How did you get it out?

I changed the fluid on mine in the fall and I could not figure out a way to remove the cover entirely with the swaybar in place.

 

Stangfreak95

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Mar 9, 2006

#8

• Mar 9, 2006

• #8

I guess you just pull it towards you in an angle or so to pass that "bubble" on the cover. Really I cant see how you werent able to do it. I even changed carriers twice in my driveway on the pavement with the swaybar in place as well

 

J

joekd

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Dec 21, 2005

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Mar 9, 2006

#9

• Mar 9, 2006

• #9

yeah, both my OEM cover and the TA both fit fine with the swaybar in place

 

GRGT1994

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Sep 22, 2004

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Mar 9, 2006

#10

• Mar 9, 2006

• #10

I swapped my gears (pulled the carrier chunk) with the sway bar in place. Shouldn't be a problem with just the cover.

 

Joe 5.0

Founding Member

Feb 1, 2002

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Macomb, MI (metro detroit)

Mar 9, 2006

#11

• Mar 9, 2006

• #11

Thanks guys, heading to the store right now to get the fluid, andgonnatackle this today.

I'm justgetting whatever they have at autozone, because in the next couple months I'm getting a new diff anyways, so its pointless to spend extra for the fluid when its getting replaced anyways. I just dont have the money right now to replace the diff, but its getting nice so I am gonna wanna drive it.

 

9

95stangGT

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Jan 13, 2002

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Buffalo, NY

Mar 9, 2006

#12

• Mar 9, 2006

• #12

Joe 5.0 said:

Thanks guys, heading to the store right now to get the fluid, andgonnatackle this today.

I'm justgetting whatever they have at autozone, because in the next couple months I'm getting a new diff anyways, so its pointless to spend extra for the fluid when its getting replaced anyways. I just dont have the money right now to replace the diff, but its getting nice so I am gonna wanna drive it.

Click to expand...

delete.

 

Joe 5.0

Founding Member

Feb 1, 2002

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Macomb, MI (metro detroit)

Mar 9, 2006

#13

• Mar 9, 2006

• #13

95stangGT said:

delete.

Click to expand...

??

I did the change, and it went pretty easy. No broken bolts, but also I only had like a cup of fluid in the axle. Good thing I didnt drive on it much the past couple months.

Actually filling it was the biggest pita, since I didnt have any hosing to snake to the fill hole, so I had to just be swift and tip the bottle quickly.

Anyways, thanks for the help guys.

BTW do I HAVE to put in friction modifier? I used the Valvoline synthetic fluid. They didnt have any modifier at autozone, and the local ford dealer was closed.

 

95cobraguy

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Dec 23, 2005

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Concord, NC by way of LI, NY

Mar 9, 2006

#14

• Mar 9, 2006

• #14

when i put in my trick flow cover i used the supplied gasket. why would anybody want to deal with sloppy rtv when a nice gasket is supplied? oh, i dont have a drop of fluid leaking.

 

94-302-vert

Active Member

Aug 16, 2004

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NE CT

Mar 10, 2006

#15

• Mar 10, 2006

• #15

I also used the valvoline high performance fluid and it had the friction modifier in it. If the rear end is not jerky or banging you should be OK.