How to: Diff fluid service

[youztheclue]

This is my first video how to, and first time doing the diff service. it might not be the correct way but its the best way i could get the job done. hopefully this helps others out so they can get out there and enjoy their car as well.

[Pmg]

How to's are always awesome and welcomed. Thank you!

Where in Illinois are you?

[AlbatrossCafe]

I tried to change my fluid but couldn't get the fill plug off for the life of me. Good thing I checked that before the drain... I'm sure my fluid is 10 years old.

[Zed Head]

Nissan used some pretty strong thread sealer on the fill plug.  The plug in the video has been out before, it's not stock.  I had to use heat to get mine out.  Not red hot but enough to expand the aluminum cover and soften up the sealer.  I could only turn the plug when the cover was warm, when it cooled down it got tight again.

Good tips on removing the control arm caps and loosening the cross brace.  You can also loosen the mustache bar nuts and let the diff drop slightly.  With support under it of course.

Here's another tip - never try to refill the diff if it's 40 degrees F in the garage.  It will take forever.

[youztheclue]

I live 20 mins out of east STL. I  warm my bottle in a hot water bath for easy flow. basically what brought me to this point was the lack of info on my set up it is all for a different style diff, and just biting the bullet and taking some parts off the car.

[wheee!]

I hear some people pull the half-shaft to fill the diff... seems like a bit more work, but if the plug is seized....

[Zed Head]

I remember spending a lot of time trying to find a better tool for the plug than a half inch drive "knob".  It doesn't quite fit and tends to slip out.  I can understand why the plug was switched in the video.

[gnosez]

Weld a 1/2 piece of bar stock to a section of flat or 1/2 inch stock which will be your handle. Measure the clearance before welding. Wrap handle if you like. Now you have a tool that is long and strong enough.

If you have an outie and not an inie for a fill plug take a 17m wrench you can either put the other end in the cup of a small jack and use the hydraulic power of the jack or cut the end off the box end of wrench and insert a length of 1/2 or 3/4 pipe to leverage the wrench.