Front & Real Differential Fluids

[pbkid]

Well Jack, are you going to drop the tranny pan and change the filter? If you have never done that, I personally think it is something you should do.

The diffs are super easy. The tranny is a bit of a pain if you are going to drop the pan and do a full service and swap the filter.

You have to support the tranny with a jack stand and drop the big cross member, and then you can get at the pan and drop it. Replace the gasket and the filter and clean the pan and magnet out real nice, refill, and your VX will be a happy camper.

Honestly, it is really simple, it's just messy and hot under the VX. And get one of the those graduated funnels with the lid, tube and valve attached to it from Wal*mart, add some clear tubing from home depot and then filling the tranny is very easy with a helper (one person holding the tube in the hole, another person holding the funnel and pouring the fluid) using the siphon method.

Bart

well, to be honest, i was going to just change the fluid, but i think you are right that if im going to spend the time and money i might as well spend a little extra and do it right...

i just might need a little more walking through on the tranny service...

1. i understand dropping the crossmember, and i think i understand dropping the pan (done after you drain it, right?).
2. when you drop the pan, is it the one thats kinda in front of the tranny (looks like its between the tranny and motor?)
3. and it has those bolts all the way around the phlange that connects it to the tranny, you just unbolt those and it comes off??
4. am i going to need any type of gasket?
5. do i need a pump or just a funnel with a long hose to fill it?
6. am i going to need 10 qts to do the full service?
7. did i get all the fluids right??

and lastly...what the do you do with all that damned fluid??? after changing everything im gonna have like 15 qts of old fluid laying around??
do you guys just drain fluids like these into milk jugs??

[nfpgasmask]

Jack, I'll PM you phone number. I can always assist over the phone if you get stuck. I've done mine twice now.

Yes, you basically have the process down. You just need to go to the parts store and get a filter for the VX tranny. Usually about $30-$40. The filter should come with the gasket. Take the gasket out right away, get some heavy books and flatten that sucker out under the books for a day or two. If you don't, you will have a HELLUVA time getting it to sit right on the pan. I agree, just draining and refilling is a halfie job. I think 9 quarts should do it.

The first time I did my tranny I used a pump to push the fluid up and in. It took FOREVER and I spilled A LOT of fluid allover everything. I highly recommend the funnel and siphon method. I think my funnel cost about $6 from Wal*mart and then you just need an extra length of clear tubing. That is the easiest and cleanest way to fill the tranny. And remember to reference the instructions to check the level when you fill it, the process has been posted a million times on here.

The only problem you may run into if this has never been done on your VX before is a rotten and stuck on gasket. Once you remove all the bolts, the pan should come free. If your pan has never been dropped, it will probably be stuck there with the rotted gasket. Take a 2x4 about the length of your forearm and put it up against the pan, whack the 2x4 a few times with a rubber mallet and it should come free. Then have fun scraping the old gasket off the lips of the pan and housing. Be careful when doing this, do not use a flat blade screwdriver or anything that could mar the mating surface. Clean the pan out real good and inspect the magnet for excessive metal shavings. No matter what, you will have some metal shaving or more like a metal paste attached to the magnet. Wipe all that clean.

If you have a helper, it makes things faster if you fill the pan with a quart or 2 of ATF before you lift it up and bolt it on. Otherwise, filling can take a little time.

Another tip, take your VX to the car wash and pressure clean the beejesus outta that area and over the cross member to get as much dirt and crap out ahead of time, otherwise it will be raining dirt the whole time you are under your VX.

Give yourself a full Saturday.

When you are done, make popsicles with the old fluid and pass them around to the kids in your neighborhood.

JK, take it all to your parts store and dump it. I know Kragen here takes oil and ATF for free.

Bart

[Triathlete]

HERE is a little info from when I did mine. It is a pretty easy job...just consumes a bit of time. Plan on at least 4 hours. When you have the cross member dropped also check the tranny mount. Mine had pretty much come undone and was just sitting there. Easy fix...tighten a couple of bolts. Sorry the pics are gone...the host shut down! If you need them and think they will help let me know and I'll email them to you. Have fun!

[PK]

Did I ever mention that JDM's have a tranny dipstick and fill tube........

Did I .....Did I.....



Have fun.

PK

[pbkid]

Did I ever mention that JDM's have a tranny dipstick and fill tube........

Did I .....Did I.....



Have fun.

PK

thanks....you are sooooooo encouraging....

[etlsport]

hey jack double check the manual, i think that it recommends 70w140 for the rear diff... if you use regular gear oil (ie not mobil 1 or royal purple) you probably need to add LSD additive to it too.. for the transfer case you need a 3/8" socket wrench with a small extension bar to remove the plugs

[Bee Sting]

Changed the diff fluids on the weekend. VX is a much smoother ride now.

Went with AMSOIL 75W90 in the front and a mix of 75W90 and 80W140 in the rear (does that make 77.5W105) to give a wider temperature coverage. Also added AMSOIL's Slip Lock in the back.

Fluild out was pretty black and smelly. Had to poke the front with a piece of wire to get it flowing.

[etlsport]

installed new shocks today, noticed i have gear oil coming out of the seal between the rear diff and the drive shaft, so i went to top off the differential, make sure im not low on fluid.. taking off the filler plug released a lot of pressure, i really cant figure out why, i took the breather hose off and its clear, hooking up compressed air to it, there is some pressure build up, theres a white cap at the top of the breather, it seems to be blocking the airflow some, but not enough to build up the kind of pressure ive got there, not sure how i would test if its clogged at the differential, kind of thinking it is, i stuck a coat hanger in there and hit something pretty solid feeling.. anyone know whats supposed to be in there?

[Gussie2000]

installed new shocks today, noticed i have gear oil coming out of the seal between the rear diff and the drive shaft, so i went to top off the differential, make sure im not low on fluid.. taking off the filler plug released a lot of pressure, i really cant figure out why, i took the breather hose off and its clear, hooking up compressed air to it, there is some pressure build up, theres a white cap at the top of the breather, it seems to be blocking the airflow some, but not enough to build up the kind of pressure ive got there, not sure how i would test if its clogged at the differential, kind of thinking it is, i stuck a coat hanger in there and hit something pretty solid feeling.. anyone know whats supposed to be in there?

There's a pinion seal that due age gets busted.I had that seal replaced few months ago when i had an small leak right there eric

The pinion seal cost 'bout $ 10.00/15.00

[johnnyapollo]

I wanted to add that there are actually 2 pans in the tranny - the larger covers the filter - there's a smaller pan (adapter pan) up front that covers the tranny solenoids. Best right up I've seen was done by Joe Black:
http://www.antiquecaterpillar.org/vx...l/4L30E_01.asp

Call around and ask for a tranny-pan filter kit for a GM4L30E- comes with both gaskets (pan and adapter pan) plus the filter - runs right at $50 and the gaskets are shrink-wrapped to cardboard so they come flat.

-- John

[tom4bren]

Johnny,

Joe's writeup is also available in the how2 section in pdf format.

http://www.vehicross.info/modules.ph...warticle&id=20

Bee Sting,

Good catch. I had the same issue. Everyone should note that if you are draining the pumpkins & you don't get much coming out of the drain hole, it's clogged more often than not. Just poke a piece of wire or the end of a zip tie in there to move the clog out of the way.

[johnnyapollo]

Oh and another thing - apparently there are two versions of the front diff - the drain holes are different so be aware that photos and descriptions may not match.

-- John

[swift16]

I work for Dynatrac (best diff and axles on the planet). We recommend that you use anything rated GL5 or GL6. Do change it as per the factory mileage -- you will be happy you did.

[pbkid]

swift16- how about working on getting some lockers for the VX?

[circmand]

about this issue of filling the tranny with fluid after changing the filter. It seems like it would be a bitch as some here have said. However it occured to me that one of those old fashioned manual siphon hoses might be just the ticket. They have a chamber you squeeze and release and it was to siphon gas out of the tank so you have plenty of hose and could ppump tranny fluid it with it right from the container. You might want to keep from using for gas afterwards or before to prevent contamination of the fluid but otherwise probably very helpful