Front diff cover leaking
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 569
Likes: 202
I pulled my cover off to drain and replace the fluid.
Once I had all the bolts out and the cover popped so the fluid could drain, I realized that it CAN NOT be removed from the truck without either dropping the differential or removing the steering rack.
Was a huge UH OH moment. I worked a Lube Locker gasket up into place and threaded all of the bolts back in without removing any of the existing silicone sealant. 5,000 miles later it still isn't leaking. Keeping fingers crossed that it stays that way.
It is absolutely beyond comprehension that they didn't leave enough room to service the front differential.
Once I had all the bolts out and the cover popped so the fluid could drain, I realized that it CAN NOT be removed from the truck without either dropping the differential or removing the steering rack.
Was a huge UH OH moment. I worked a Lube Locker gasket up into place and threaded all of the bolts back in without removing any of the existing silicone sealant. 5,000 miles later it still isn't leaking. Keeping fingers crossed that it stays that way.
It is absolutely beyond comprehension that they didn't leave enough room to service the front differential.
5 Year Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 895
From: USA
A drain would be nice but how would that help a leaking cover? The OP is trying to fix a leak. If you just want to service the fluid you can use an extraction pump, that’s what I do when I’m changing fluid.
5 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 905
Likes: 344
From: Quebec, Canada
Did you successfully extract the fluid this way with the F150 front diff?
5 Year Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 895
From: USA
5 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 536
From: Georgia
I will definitely use the extraction method in the future. My problem with that method is there's no way to wipe down the inside of the housing that way. Seems that a lot of the nastiness clings to the housing. Not to mention the puddle that is likely left if using the extraction method.
That being said, it's easier than removing the diff or steering rack. In my opinion, they could have easily engineered enough room to remove the cover. Laziness!
That being said, it's easier than removing the diff or steering rack. In my opinion, they could have easily engineered enough room to remove the cover. Laziness!
Size Matters
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 3,402
I will definitely use the extraction method in the future. My problem with that method is there's no way to wipe down the inside of the housing that way. Seems that a lot of the nastiness clings to the housing. Not to mention the puddle that is likely left if using the extraction method.
That being said, it's easier than removing the diff or steering rack. In my opinion, they could have easily engineered enough room to remove the cover. Laziness!
That being said, it's easier than removing the diff or steering rack. In my opinion, they could have easily engineered enough room to remove the cover. Laziness!
5 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 905
Likes: 344
From: Quebec, Canada
I will definitely use the extraction method in the future. My problem with that method is there's no way to wipe down the inside of the housing that way. Seems that a lot of the nastiness clings to the housing. Not to mention the puddle that is likely left if using the extraction method.
That being said, it's easier than removing the diff or steering rack. In my opinion, they could have easily engineered enough room to remove the cover. Laziness!
That being said, it's easier than removing the diff or steering rack. In my opinion, they could have easily engineered enough room to remove the cover. Laziness!
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 176
Likes: 37
Agreed just change the fluid, drive it a few days and change it again.
Thats like $8 of oil, less than the gasket.
Draining it twice is a tiny fraction of the work to take the diff cover off.
I made a suction chamber with a 5-gal pail and a shopvac, it was super easy.
Inside the 5-gal pail (with lid) you run the hose into a gallon jug inside the pail, & there's no mess at all.
Much better than the oil suction units you buy, 'cuz the oil goes right into your gallon jug.
There's nothing to clean but the suction hose and you can suck a little gas thru it..
Thats like $8 of oil, less than the gasket.
Draining it twice is a tiny fraction of the work to take the diff cover off.
I made a suction chamber with a 5-gal pail and a shopvac, it was super easy.
Inside the 5-gal pail (with lid) you run the hose into a gallon jug inside the pail, & there's no mess at all.
Much better than the oil suction units you buy, 'cuz the oil goes right into your gallon jug.
There's nothing to clean but the suction hose and you can suck a little gas thru it..