No drain plug on rear diff for 2022

[Mhonda]

Wondering if anyone else can confirm on their's, but my 2022 Rubicon does not have a drain plug on the rear differential. This is the M220 axle. I have not seen this change noted anywhere else previously. The front M210 does not have a drain plug, but I was already expecting that since that change was made in 2021 sometime

Sponsored

 

[dchemphill1]

Seriously! So you have to take the diff cover off to drain and the reinstall plate? Seems like a way to dissuade some from doing their own work and saving hundreds of $.

 

[dcmdon]

how do you even refill it? Is there a filler somewhere else?

 

[Hogdreamer]

If true, that would really stink. I just changed the fluid in my '21 Sahara's m220 with limited slip just this week.

 

[jjvincent]

Not uncommon in this day of age. If a manufacturer can save half a cent, they will. My RV (Ford chassis Class C) doesn't have a diff drain plug either. I just suck it out and refill. I guess one day I'll buy a new diff cover that has a drain plug on in. I have even worked on some vehicles that the fill plug is not threaded but just a rubber plug.

On the other hand, some cars don't even have a dip stick (many German cars). That really freaked people out for a while.

Plus, most cars now just have one plug at the bottom of the transmission with a stovepipe installed inside of it. So, you got to take out the plug, thread out the stove pipe. Once drained, reinstall the stovepipe and then use a pressurized container and specific adapter to fill through that hole. Overfill and take the adapter out, run it and then monitor the trans temp. When it hits a specific temp, put the drain plug back in.

 

[Mhonda]

 

[Kijijeep]

No drain plugs but they have a reusable gasket for the cover so no more RTV sealant.

 

[ABRubi]

Actually taking the cover off is a better way to service anyway. You can look at whats going on inside there and clean the inside of the cover and get all the crap out of the nooks.

 

[Wolfy]

So with no plug. How do you get the new fluid into the diff?
Nevermind. Still has the fill plug right?

 

[Chupacabra]

So with no plug. How do you get the new fluid into the diff?
Nevermind. Still has the fill plug right?

Has to be one on the cover then I'd think. Pretty sure that's how I filled my TJ that didn't have a drain plug on the axle itself.

 

[word302]

Is it really that big of a deal to remove the cover to drain the diff? Not having a drain plug to drag on the ground is actually a good thing. Some of you will complain about anything.

 

[Hogdreamer]

Is it really that big of a deal to remove the cover to drain the diff? Not having a drain plug to drag on the ground is actually a good thing. Some of you will complain about anything.

Anyone who wants to pull the cover off just to change the fluid can do that whether there is a drain plug or not. Because the plug is on the side of the differential there probably isn't much chance in it being damaged.

I can make a mess under the best of circumstances. If I felt the need to remove the cover, I'd drain the fluid through the drain plug first, if it had one, and then remove the cover.

Less chance to spread that stinky diff fluid places other than the drain container. If I didn't have a drain plug I, for one, would add a cover with a plug.

 

[zrickety]

No drain plugs but they have a reusable gasket for the cover so no more RTV sealant.

Still seems asinine not to put a drain plug there...IMO both axles should have that side drain position.

 

[DogsRule]

Less chance to spread that stinky diff fluid...

LOL. Forgot about that. Especially after having cooked it a few times. Splash in the mouth is the worst.

 

[word302]

Anyone who wants to pull the cover off just to change the fluid can do that whether there is a drain plug or not. Because the plug is on the side of the differential there probably isn't much chance in it being damaged.

I can make a mess under the best of circumstances. If I felt the need to remove the cover, I'd drain the fluid through the drain plug first, if it had one, and then remove the cover.

Less chance to spread that stinky diff fluid places other than the drain container. If I didn't have a drain plug I, for one, would add a cover with a plug.

You realize diffs without drains has been a thing since forever? For an off-road vehicle it’s an obvious choice.

Sponsored