I posted a month or so again about the truck getting hung up on something in the driveline. concluded it was the parking brakes.

now they're dragging a little and squeeling. So i'm looking at the service manual, and I gotta take the axle shaft out to get to the brakes?! DAMNIT! that's another $40-$50 in diff fluid. I just put in new stuff when I checked the diff a month ago, and the 'old' stuff wasn't old.

Is there a way around this? I don't even care if I have parking brakes. Can I somehow just gut them without taking the axle out?

The answer is probably no, but thought I'd ask.

 

you could just get a pump and pump out most of the old fluid.... that might be an alternative to doing it all over again.

i feel your pain. just bought yesterday 3qts mobil 1 75w140 and 3qts 75w90. 100 big ones. plus 55 for the six quarts mobil 1 5w20 motor oil and m1210 mobil 1 filter.

 

bump.

 

I would clean the bottom of the differential as much as posdsible before you pull off the cover. Drain the fluid in a clean or even new pan. When you drain all the fluid, pour the old fluid into a container so you can just pump it back into the diff.
Mechanics always re-use the diff fluids if there's warranty work involved or when it has just been done.

 

It's possible the cables that drive the parking brakes may be getting hung up. Loosen up the tensioner--if it has one--and check them first. If their old and crusty, just replace them. You might want to do it anyway if you're going to have it all apart.