Going to change out diff fluids

[Pape]

It does work, but you're missing a few of the benefits of opening the cover. One of the benefits has been mentioned - you get to physically inspect the gears as well as being assured all the fluid is truly out. But also, you are able to wipe off any magnet on the inside of the cover to catch debris, and there typically is some.

Was not aware the cover have a magnet, I guess regular maintenance require to open up the diff.

I thought about it because I was feeling momentarily lazy and thought it would be nice not to have to remove two diff skids and two covers. But then I thought, How do I know I got all the old diff oil out? Then I thought what if there’s debris in there I would want to know about. So I removed the diff skids and covers. Maybe one of those endoscope inspection cameras with light.

Indeed

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[gm920]

Was not aware the cover have a magnet, I guess regular maintenance require to open up the diff.



Indeed

On my 2019 JLUR the magnet is in the drain plug.

 

[NWJeepr]

On my 2019 JLUR the magnet is in the drain plug.

Lucky. My '23 doesn't have drain plugs.

 

[Pape]

On my 2019 JLUR the magnet is in the drain plug.

This is a convenient place to have them

 

[Deleted User 38384]

All you have to do is drain the fluid and fill it back up? So I don't even need new gaskets right?

Regardless, stock gaskets are reusable, similar to lube locker brand gaskets.

Though realistically it's probably not a bad idea to rub a little bit of silicone paste on there to keep it soft. These gaskets end up going bad when they become hard and brittle. A simple way to keep them soft is to put some silicone paste on there and you will triple the lifetime of them.

I got a jar of 3M silicone paste like 5 years ago, and the damn thing just lasts forever. I use it on so many different things. It's probably one of the handiest and most useful things I've purchased in my lifetime.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Lucky. My '23 doesn't have drain plugs.

If you buy a ARB front or rear differential cover, they have drain plugs on them. You'll never have to take the cover off again too refill the diff fluid... Though I would recommend you do every couple of refills just to inspect the gears.

I got one for my front differential because it not only strengthens the whole differential by adding an extra 900+ ft-lbs to its torsional rigidity it also allows you to drain it without removing the cover. And since my front differential doesn't have a drain plug like my rear does, that's big for me. Saves me a lot of time!

$190 bucks, and free shipping if you order from the ARB website. Going to be installing it here soon. Here's a video telling you all the details and a quick install.

 

[wreck99]

If you buy a ARB front or rear differential cover, they have drain plugs on them. You'll never have to take the cover off again too refill the diff fluid... Though I would recommend you do every couple of refills just to inspect the gears.

I got one for my front differential because it not only strengthens the whole differential by adding an extra 900+ ft-lbs to its torsional rigidity it also allows you to drain it without removing the cover. And since my front differential doesn't have a drain plug like my rear does, that's big for me. Saves me a lot of time!

$190 bucks, and free shipping if you order from the ARB website. Going to be installing it here soon. Here's a video telling you all the details and a quick install.

I'm looking into switching my factory covers for these ARBs. I know with the fill being higher that you can't just fill until it runs out like the factory ones however I've seen videos where people are measuring the amounts and I'm wondering is it true that the capacity is different when you change covers?

 

[Deleted User 38384]

I'm looking into switching my factory covers for these ARBs. I know with the fill being higher that you can't just fill until it runs out like the factory ones however I've seen videos where people are measuring the amounts and I'm wondering is it true that the capacity is different when you change covers?

In the video I posted, the guy shows how to mark the dipstick so that you can see how much oil is in there. I did a rough guesstimate when I filled mine based on percentages in the court size pouches I used. It is difficult to see where the oil is specifically on that dipstick because it's so smooth the oil slides right off.

I'd rather add a little too much than add not enough. It's hard to access the dipstick at stock height with the track bar where it is. I filed mine down a little bit and put a notch where the mark should be just like the guy did in the video. When I check the dipstick I don't screw it all the way down which would realistically give you the perfect proper height, I just poke it in press down a little bit so the rubber seal is smushed a smidgen, and then I pull it out and check it real quick before the oil has time to slide off.

Is it perfect? No, but what in life is!



If you look at this video by Gale Banks, you can see how the oil moves, it doesn't create this pressurized chamber where it fills it completely, it flows around freely, so having an extra 10 oz in there isn't going to kill your differential. I'm not sure exactly how many extra ounces I have in mind, but they're definitely is some extra in mine.

Something else to know, my train plug was leaking for like two or three weeks, I had to add extra oil to it it leaked so much out. But at this point it stopped leaking. I asked my dad about it, and he said because the gasket is a round rubber ring, it likely needs to get oiled before you install it, and because I didn't oil mine before I installed it, it leaked until the ring was oiled enough.

Before I install my rear ARB differential cover, I'm going to look for a properly sized crush ring that I can use instead of the rubber ring. If I find one that works, I'll let you know here before I do the differential cover swap.

 

[Fatbob Frank]

I'm looking into switching my factory covers for these ARBs. I know with the fill being higher that you can't just fill until it runs out like the factory ones however I've seen videos where people are measuring the amounts and I'm wondering is it true that the capacity is different when you change covers?

I plan on changing diff oil when I do the first oil change.
Since I have to remove the stock covers anyway I think I might as well swap to some ARBs too.
Not sure which ones to get.
As far as I can tell the new Willys has the Rubicon diffs.

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