Front differential Drain Plug?

[Johnny Tremor]

Sorry if this is a super basic maintenance question. But am I correct that there is no drain plug on the front differential? I was about to do a lube swap in front and though I would do a quick search on the web for some tips. All I could find were procedures to suck out the fluid from the fill plug, or pull the cover on the front diff. I'm having a little trouble wrapping my head around the lack of a drain plug--maybe I missed it.

Best, JT

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[Mosey]

Yes, there is no drain plug, and removing the cover is not an option. I used an oil extractor which worked very well.

 

[Samson16]

Yes, there is no drain plug, and removing the cover is not an option. I used an oil extractor which worked very well.

How many miles did you have on the truck at the time and how did the oil look?

 

[TheGoatman]

I am going to attempt popping the cover free and cleaning the old gasket with a flat razor and applying a new bead with the unit in place here soon. There might be enough wiggle room to work even if the cover can’t come down. I’ll let ya know if I’m successful. I want to take a look inside the diff.

 

[Mosey]

How many miles did you have on the truck at the time and how did the oil look?

My truck was just shy of 30k miles. The oil looked nasty. This photo is old vs new of the rear end oil - the front was far worse.

 

[Mosey]

I am going to attempt popping the cover free and cleaning the old gasket with a flat razor and applying a new bead with the unit in place here soon. There might be enough wiggle room to work even if the cover can’t come down. I’ll let ya know if I’m successful. I want to take a look inside the diff.

Be careful. If the front diff is like the rear you are going to want to clean the mating surfaces really well and keep the debris from falling inside.

 

[Johnny Tremor]

Yes, there is no drain plug, and removing the cover is not an option. I used an oil extractor which worked very well.

Wow. That is pretty shoddy on Ford's part. And it sounds like it has been that way for more than a decade. It would not have taken much for Ford to machine a drain plug in the housing or the diff cover. I hate to put Ford down on a Ford forum, but between the fiber diaper on the "off-road" Tremor, an inability to mount a winch in the front bumper of an EB 3.5 and all the rattles I'm hearing inside the cab, I'm kinda wondering how the F150 got to be the best selling pickup.

I am going to attempt popping the cover free and cleaning the old gasket with a flat razor and applying a new bead with the unit in place here soon. There might be enough wiggle room to work even if the cover can’t come down. I’ll let ya know if I’m successful. I want to take a look inside the diff.

Yea, let us know what you find. At least one video says you have to drop the steering rack to get the cover all the way off. If you go through the trouble of getting the cover off, I'd for sure add a drain plug to the diff cover or the housing. Looks like you can get a stamped steel cover with a drain plug for not too much.

https://purplecranium.com/i-63199-f...al-cover-rear-f150-ranger-bronco-mustang.html

I think most 8.8 covers will work for the front differential.

My truck was just shy of 30k miles. The oil looked nasty. This photo is old vs new of the rear end oil - the front was far worse.

30K is not that much. I've heard that the ring gear marking compound Ford uses to check the mesh of the gears makes the lube look pretty nasty for the first change. But that said, I'm always surprised that manufacturers do not specify a differential lube change earlier in the life of the vehicle. When I have regeared vehicles the shop has always recommended a lube swap at 500 miles with new gears to get ride of the breakin particles.

Thanks, JT

 

[fordtruckman2003]

Someone posted in past with a high lift kit they were able to use for Ford Performance 8.8 cover on the front. Without that I don't think there is enough room for many aftermarket 8.8 covers.

I'm still looking for a cover with drain plug to fit the "super" 8.8 rear I have.

 

[Gord0]

Someone posted in past with a high lift kit they were able to use for Ford Performance 8.8 cover on the front. Without that I don't think there is enough room for many aftermarket 8.8 covers.

I'm still looking for a cover with drain plug to fit the "super" 8.8 rear I have.

They have 3 options for the super 8.8 a stage 3
https://www.stage3motorsports.com/2009-2014-f150-differential-covers-differentials.html

 

[Johnny Tremor]

Someone posted in past with a high lift kit they were able to use for Ford Performance 8.8 cover on the front. Without that I don't think there is enough room for many aftermarket 8.8 covers.

I'm still looking for a cover with drain plug to fit the "super" 8.8 rear I have.

For the 8.8 front differential, I'd guess a stamped steel diff cover would be an easier fit than the aluminum Ford Performance cover. The AL covers are a lot thicker and have cooling fins. If you have access to a welder, putting a drain plug into the stock cover is an option also--if you can get the stock cover off. A few have also suggested tapping the diff housing to add a plug.

I'm still astonished that Ford makes the differential cover near impossible to remove, and does not provide a drain plug to remove the lube. Makes me wonder what other corners they are cutting that are not so visible.

Best, JT

 

[fordtruckman2003]

I'm still astonished that Ford makes the differential cover near impossible to remove, and does not provide a drain plug to remove the lube. Makes me wonder what other corners they are cutting that are not so visible.

That "lifetime" change interval probably started because it's impossible to get cover off on most models.

 

[Mosey]

I suppose if you really want a drain hole rather than extraction, get a bung welded onto your existing cover and then drill through the bung to pierce the cover.

 

[Johnny Tremor]

I am going to attempt popping the cover free and cleaning the old gasket with a flat razor and applying a new bead with the unit in place here soon. There might be enough wiggle room to work even if the cover can’t come down. I’ll let ya know if I’m successful. I want to take a look inside the diff.

Any luck getting the diff cover off?

 

[amschind]

Purple Cranium makes one, but pulling everything just to get that is probably overkill. That said, IF you installed a front Raptor Torsen, the drain plug diff cover is a must. I believe that many of the engineers who design these trucks have never worked on a vehicle. An engineer who has spent time turning wrenches is a very different animal than one who never has. The instinct for "that thing is gonna snap in half" or "if you don't lubricate that better, it's gonna make engine glitter" is something that you refine and prove out with math, NOT something that can be REPLACED BY MATH. Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity, or in this case simple ignorance.

The first thing that engineers at any automotive firm should do is go change oil and spark plugs with the grease monkeys at some local dealership. I.e. NOT a job where you pull the whole engine out/cab off, but one where you have to reach into a crevice that SOMEONE DESIGNED and skin your knuckles while reaching a bolt with an extension and U-joint on your socket. Make them replace some differential fluid on a diff with no drain plug; see how long it takes for them to figure out that $0.30 worth of machine time and $1.50 worth of drain plug makes life a lot easier.

 

[TheGoatman]

Any luck getting the diff cover off?

Diff oil came yesterday. Motorcraft rtv coming today. Maybe Friday. Scattered showers this weekend. We’ll see.

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