Rear diff change questions

[GX4SEVEND]

Ok so I did the transfer case with no problems but on the rear diff when I loosened the fill plug I got a slight hissing sound like air is releasing. Is this normal? Does that mean my breather is clogged?

Also, there was a weird gray like paste on the magnet of the drain plug. Normal?

 

[cordrayj1]

The gray paste is most likely the pieces of metal from inside diff. Normal. As long as it ain't shards of metal. Sounds like your breather is clogged. Couldn't hurt to extend the breather up higher for how much it costs.

 

[thebrandon]

Even with a properly functioning breather there should be a tiny bit of pressure in there, wouldn't hurt to check the breather too though.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I'd just buy another breather ($20) and extend it or blow it out with compressed air. Paste is normal.

 

[GX4SEVEND]

Yeah I've wanted to do the breather mod for a while now so I'm gonna look for the write up and see what all is needed and see if I can tackle that one soon.

 

[GX4SEVEND]

Forgot to ask earlier......the front diff drain plug is stripped, and it's a 10mm hex. Any tricks to getting this thing off? I changed out the cv joints and lost some front diff fluid which was the whole reason I changed all the fluids anyway and now I can't even change the front.

 

[cj80cruiser]

I think I read that someone hammered a 12mm hex in to remove it??? You may or may not be able to get the larger hex out of the plug but atleast it's out. May even have to weld a nut on it for removal.

 

[cordrayj1]

yep, hammer in a larger size and sacrifice the hex and get a new plug. for some reason mine was very very very difficult to get off the first time too..had to use an impact to get mine off.