Rear end may be dry

Blk04MM

Blk04MM

New member
Lately I've noticed a posible roaring noise and a clunk or two from the rear. So I checked it and noticed build up on the bottom of the rear diff cover.

Car runs fine so I want to handle this before I have real issues. Right now I cant buy a rear diff cover so what are my options? I see we dont have drain/fill plugs on our cover so is it possible to drill/tap one? or is there a better way to go?
 
There is a fill hole on the front driver side of the differential. I would take the cover off to inspect the rear end internals, just to make sure that there are no chinks loose in there.
 
Spectragod said:
There is a fill hole on the front driver side of the differential. I would take the cover off to inspect the rear end internals, just to make sure that there are no chinks loose in there.
Click to expand...

ok so just remove it and see if anything is laying around?

and any special way to refill her up when im done?
 
Blk04MM said:
ok so just remove it and see if anything is laying around?

and any special way to refill her up when im done?
Click to expand...

If you heard "clunking", I would, just to make sure all the teeth are on the gears and there is nothing that is loose inside the differential.

To refill, make sure the air suspension is turned off in the trunk, that the car is level, remove the fill plug, it is threaded in, you will need additive for the limited slip, I usually add that in with my first bottle of oil, fill till the oil is at the bottom of the fill hole, I would recommend a pump, as there is not a lot of room to work in that area. Screw the plug back into the differential. Turn the air suspension back on when the car is on the ground.
 
Spectragod said:
If you heard "clunking", I would, just to make sure all the teeth are on the gears and there is nothing that is loose inside the differential.

To refill, make sure the air suspension is turned off in the trunk, that the car is level, remove the fill plug, it is threaded in, you will need additive for the limited slip, I usually add that in with my first bottle of oil, fill till the oil is at the bottom of the fill hole, I would recommend a pump, as there is not a lot of room to work in that area. Screw the plug back into the differential. Turn the air suspension back on when the car is on the ground.
Click to expand...


oh ok i dont have a pump or a torque wrench to tq the studs back to spec. is the service pricey at a shop? i've never had this issue before ever in any vehicle
 
Your best bet may be to just take it to a shop & let them check it out for you. :dunno: Thats what i would do.
 
Blk04MM said:
oh ok i dont have a pump or a torque wrench to tq the studs back to spec. is the service pricey at a shop? i've never had this issue before ever in any vehicle
Click to expand...

You don't have to torque anything. The cover bolts you just tighten down. You don't even need a new gasket... the OEM one is reusable.
 
No gasket on the diff cover. It is sealed with a bead of silcone gasket maker. Try to let it dry for 6-24 hours before filling it and make sure the sealing sufaces are clean, clean, clean of oil residue or it will leakl again..

Easy to pull it to inspect..
 
Just had my differential serviced in late September at my local car service center. $80.00 for labor plus cost of fluid, varies by brand. Some fluid brands require a friction modifier additive, some don't. Takes three quarts.

FWIW - the roaring noise may be worn axel/bearings.
 
vegasmarauder said:
No gasket on the diff cover. It is sealed with a bead of silcone gasket maker. Try to let it dry for 6-24 hours before filling it and make sure the sealing sufaces are clean, clean, clean of oil residue or it will leakl again..

Easy to pull it to inspect..
Click to expand...

Correct..... it's been so long since my diff was apart.
 
Just pull the fill plug......if stuff has gone bad inside it will look like a silver bird wing with all the debris on the magnet.......don't even ask how I know this!!:argue:

If it's clean or just has a little graphite lookin' stuff on it you should be OK!!:beer:

Give it a whirl.....easy and tells the story....unless there is NO FLUID in it!!:eek:
 
Pat said:
Just had my differential serviced in late September at my local car service center. $80.00 for labor plus cost of fluid, varies by brand. Some fluid brands require a friction modifier additive, some don't. Takes three quarts.

FWIW - the roaring noise may be worn axel/bearings.
Click to expand...

That's what I'm thinking too, Pat; ask me how Iknow...
 
I had to service the rear end on my MM bacause the cover was leaking. Judging by the sounds of your car, you may have to overhaul.

Keep us posted.
 
Time to pull the cover.

I picked up a howl in the rear end and it was one of my carrier bearings. Easy swap though. Only took a few hours.
 
I haven't pulled it apart yet or driven the car much at all. But I went to a shop about 5 mins up the road and he said he's worked on plenty and it may not be my rear end but possibly the noise of my bald azz tires. Looking at the driveway the rear end leaked maybe a few drops within a weeks time not even enough to puddle. The car sits for days I don't drive that much. But anyway I caught them at closing time and was told to bring it back and they will check it
 
Blk04MM said:
I haven't pulled it apart yet or driven the car much at all. But I went to a shop about 5 mins up the road and he said he's worked on plenty and it may not be my rear end but possibly the noise of my bald azz tires. Looking at the driveway the rear end leaked maybe a few drops within a weeks time not even enough to puddle. The car sits for days I don't drive that much. But anyway I caught them at closing time and was told to bring it back and they will check it
Click to expand...

Shouldn't leak at all. At minumum, you've got a bad axle seal, and I'd bet a good chunk of change you've got a bad bearing and axle, get it fixed before it gets any worse.
 
Blk04MM said:
I haven't pulled it apart yet or driven the car much at all. But I went to a shop about 5 mins up the road and he said he's worked on plenty and it may not be my rear end but possibly the noise of my bald azz tires. Looking at the driveway the rear end leaked maybe a few drops within a weeks time not even enough to puddle. The car sits for days I don't drive that much. But anyway I caught them at closing time and was told to bring it back and they will check it
Click to expand...

If you have any kind of mileage on the car, there is a good possibility you have axle wear (and by axle I mean any of the components that make up your axle assembly, although the shafts themselves are very common wear items). They do wear out, no point in running it until catastrophic failure.

Do yourself a favor and take it to a shop that specializes in rear ends. They'll be more skilled and knowledgeable, faster, and likely have Ford 8.8" parts in stock.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top