No drain plug on rear diff for 2022

[word302]

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

Yeah so that way if you damage it you have to do serious repair/replacement of the whole axle. Brilliant.

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[zrickety]

Yeah so that way if you damage it you have to do serious repair/replacement of the whole axle. Brilliant.

How do you damage the side of the axle?? That takes some real asshatery. If you've ruined this location, a plug is the least of your worries. Jeep could add a spot on the cover too, instead of making everyone go aftermarket.

 

[word302]

How do you damage the side of the axle?? That takes some real asshatery. If you've ruined this location, a plug is the least of your worries. Jeep could add a spot on the cover too, instead of making everyone go aftermarket.

Never cross-threaded a plug huh? It's also not that hard to damage that area in the rocks.

 

[zrickety]

Never cross-threaded a plug huh?

No, never have. I have come across a few that others have cross threaded though.
What about the 12 other chances to cross thread the cover bolts? Sure, any monkey can pull the cover and put it back on. But it seems pretty stupid when everyone and their brother makes a cover with drain plugs.

 

[word302]

No, never have. I have come across a few that others have cross threaded though.
What about the 12 other chances to cross thread the cover bolts? Sure, any monkey can pull the cover and put it back on. But it seems pretty stupid when everyone and their brother makes a cover with drain plugs.

So get one of those and be happy. All I’m saying is it’s no big deal (any monkey can do it) to pull the cover to drain the fluid. Gives you a chance do do a thorough inspection as well.

 

[zrickety]

So get one of those and be happy. All I’m saying is it’s no big deal (any monkey can do it) to pull the cover to drain the fluid. Gives you a chance do do a thorough inspection as well.

Are we supposed to drop the pan to change the engine oil? Do you see how ridiculous that sounds??

 

[Vinman]

Are we supposed to drop the pan to change the engine oil? Do you see how ridiculous that sounds??

Yes, then it gives you an opportunity to check the crank while your in there?

 

[Vinman]

If mine didn’t have a drain plug I would drill and tap a hole for a plug.
30 mins tops if I took my time.

 

[word302]

Are we supposed to drop the pan to change the engine oil? Do you see how ridiculous that sounds??

Yeah cuz that’s the same thing.

 

[word302]

If mine didn’t have a drain plug I would drill and tap a hole for a plug.
30 mins tops if I took my time.

You’re going to tap a diff cover? Good luck with that.

 

[CarbonSteel]

So the "boss" for drilling/tapping is there, they have just elected to save a few dollars and not do it from the factory. I sample or change my axle oil far too much to not have one.

You could drill and tap it or if not set up to do that, there are covers with drains at the bottom of the cover, though they are not at the lowest point and some oil + crud will remain. Pulling the cover is not that hard (not excusing FCA's choices), but at least you could clean the interior at the same time and the gasket is re-usable.

 

[CarbonSteel]

You’re going to tap a diff cover? Good luck with that.

Yep; it is too thin, but you could have a small threaded boss welded onto it. I did on the tops of my OEMs (before going to Motobilt) for the temperature probes I installed.

 

[Hogdreamer]

Never cross-threaded a plug huh? It's also not that hard to damage that area in the rocks.

Aw yes, reminds me of the time I was helping the guy who bought one of my Harley's how to change the fluids in the bike.

Make sure you don't cross thread the fill plug on the primary, I told him. Don't worry, he said, of course I won't!

When I noticed he kept wrenching and wrenching on that fill plug, I knew he had stripped it out by cross threading.

All he had to do was to start installing the plug WITH HIS FINGERS until he knew it was started well before putting a wrench to it.

Some people have the skill to wrench, some don't. I think my friend learned that evening he didn't have that skill.

Changing the fluids in a differential with a drain plug is quick for almost anybody with minimal mechanical ability.

Accomplishing the same end result by pulling the differential cover is a slightly tougher job for someone with little mechanical skills. Doable but now they should make the bolts for the cover are torqued similar to prevent a leak.

Yes, the internal gears can be inspected with the cover off but unless one sees busted pieces of gear and/or bearing how many know what they are really looking for?

I just know that since changing the fluid last week because it was super easy in my differential with a drain plug I get a clunk when placing it in reverse. Not the CLUNK I was getting previously.

Pull the cover? I'd still be waiting for warmer weather to do it because I hate working in the cold.

 

[Vinman]

You’re going to tap a diff cover? Good luck with that.

No, drill and tap the housing right where the diff drain plug was on previous years.

 

[Odyssey USA]

Dana wants you to buy their cast diff cover with the fill and drain plug.

I’d definitely not want the bottom location drain plug and I think it’s a good thing for that one to have been removed. There’s been a few people hang up on those and damage the area enough to leak. I think WAY ALIFE had an episode where this happened?

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