Axle and gear oil

[RedOak]

Ok- I really feel stupid for asking this question but here it is anyway. The gear oil that is in the front or rear differential- Is it shared with what gear oil that is in the axle? Or is the gear oil in the axle drained and changed independent of the differential. Seems like a stupid question but it is much cheaper for me to buy Valvoline 80w-90 conventional stock or Valvoline synthetic 75-90 myself and take it to my mechanic for the drain and change.

 

[umungus1122]

Torque is tranferred from the drive shaft to the differential which in turn transmits it to the axles. The gear oil is in the differential. You can change it yourself for the best price of all. I changed mine for the first time not long ago and it is really straightforward if you can crawl under the vehicle.

 

[RedOak]

So the axle lube is independent of the gear oil, That is my main question.

 

[Eddie]

depends on the design. Some transmissions and differentals use a common fluid. Check your owners manual

 

[Rabbler]

In a solid tube axle assembly the lube is shared.
You drain and fill the differential area but it flows to the axle bearings as well.

If your shop will charge for just the labor go ahead and supply your own oil.

What Model vehicle are you concerned about?

 

[RedOak]

1994 ford -150 351 windsor limited slip rear. 123000 miles. Unknown history of the gear oil changes in the front or back.

 

[mechtech2]

Bringing your own oil is like bringing a steak to a restaurant.
They should be able to get what you need.
But if there are no problems, go for it.

Your axle bearings and differential share the same fluid.

 

[Gregory]

All the Fords I worked on had no drain plug. I suggest you remove the pumkin cover to get all the gear oil out. Another option is to use suction out of the filler hole.

You need a 1/2" drive and 2.5 extension to remove the filler plug. The filler plug is a type of pipe thread so do not over mule it when putting the plug back into the cover.

Use RTV sealent for the pumkin cover let and fill the pumkin with oil untill it starts to drain out of the filler hole.

Truck should be on level ground.

Oh and wear old clothes any gear oil soaked clothes just put in a trash bag.

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Just changed the rear diff and manual transaxle fluid in my Nissan pickup a couple of hours ago and it was really easy. Used a 1/2" ratchet head with a pipe cheater and they popped right off. Bought a little 8 dollar hand pump to get the GL-4 in that hard to get to fill hole with 0 mess. Total job took 30 minutes. I used 6 quarts total of Coastal Brand 75W-90 and 80W-90 for a total price of 25 bucks that I got at Advanced Auto. My truck doesn't have a removable rear diff cover, just a ratchet shaped drain and fill hole, which makes it nice.

Holy cow did the manual transaxle magnetic drain plug have a lot of shavings on it. Don't know when the last guy changed the gear lubes, but I am glad I did at this point.

 

[Saturn_Fan]

My 95 Nissan PU uses GL-4 ONLY in the transmission, and GL-5 in the rear diff and both of the fluids used can be 75W-90. GL-4 was hard to find, but using GL-5 in the transmission can ruin brass ring parts due to corrosion and highly discourage over in the nissan forums.