Im about to plan on changing the transmission fluid, differential fluids (front and back) and the transfer case fluid. I have a few questions if someone can help i would appreciate it...


1. Transmission change-for those who switched to amsoil or something else, are you just changing out the pan fluid? or did you find someway to flush all the fluid out of the system and do it all? Also no drain plug that i found!! messy! Did you get the gasket and filter at the dealer? if so how much? Is there an aftermarket drain plug to be installed? (i put one on my old jimmy)

2. Front and rear diffs, again no drain plugs! anyone think about changing the covers? Everyone using amsoil?

3. Anything special about the transfer case change? Just drain and refill? Amsoil? what fluid type +4?

 

All I've changed so far is my rear diff. I need to do the front, and DEFINITLY the tranny... as for the transfer case. I don't know. All I know is when it's like 0 - 20 degrees here, the transmission on the 6spd is hard to get into any gear.. :-(

As for how I did my rear, I just unbolted the bolts, and let it drain into a drain pan...

I've read some people saying you can use a siphon type hose to get the majority of it out, then pull the cover off.

 

I changed the rear end at about 8,000 miles and used Amsoil Severe Gear 75W-140 gear lube. The Transmission fluid I had the dealer change when they did the Transmission recall. Originally the dealer just planned to re-installed the old fluid. I couldn't believe they would reuse the fluid and I provided the Amsoil ATF fluid and had them install a new transmission filter.

In the transmission I don't know of a way to change all the fluid out. Amsoil ATF fluid is completely compatible with the factory ATF.

 

Front and rear differentials have the same procedure. Make sure you have a tube of Black RTV silicone. Make sure you can take out the fill plug. Remove all the bolts except the top one for the diff cover. Losen the top one and pry the cover open so all the fluid can come out. Take the upper bolt out of the diff cover and then take the cover out. Use a gasket scraper and take off all the old stuff and then a gasket prep wheel. Wipe the gasket mounting surface with acarb cleaner soakedrag. Run a bead of silicone between the bolts and around them. Bolt it back up, wait 15 minutes for it to tack and you can refill it. You should wait 24 hours before you drive the vehicle hard core.

As far as the transmission goes, I'd take it to a place that has a trans flush machine. Dealership charges way too much. The best way is to hook up a machine to the trans cooler line so the trans pump pumps it out and the machine adds new fluid instead. That gets all the old fluid out of the pan, torque converter and lines. Doing it yourself, you get at best 40% of the old fluid out. There is about 6 quarts in the trans pan, 3 in the torque converter, 1 quart in the lines, 2 in the trans line cooler.
If you want to do it yourself, it'll be like the diff, make sure you got a dip stick. Get a trans funnel. Unbolt all the bolts on one side and losen the rear bolts so the fluid can drain alittle. Take the rear bolts out finally and let the pan drop. Change the filter held in by a bolt. Same situation, scrape the old gasket off and prep the surface. Get a filter and gasket kit from your local parts store. It'll be cheaper. Unless you get the rubber reusable gasket from the dealer.

The transfer case has a drain bolt and a fill bolt. Some of them take synchro mesh fluid so double check.

 

**** the dealership

 

You're not messing with anything mechanical. You aren't changing out a ring and pinion or a carrier or messing with the pump or clutches or servos in the trans or the transfercase. If you got sockets and RTV silicone, you can do it.